10 Aug., 1916.] 



Lucerne Manurial Tests. 



455 



A similar result is obtained on Plot 1, which received a dressing of 

 blood manure, in addition to super and lime. Here the increase was 

 19.3 cwt. over Plot 9, an increase worth 48s. 3d. per acre, obtained by 

 an added expenditure of 5s. per acre. 



4. Stable Manure. — -Observe also the results from stable manure. 

 Ten tons of stable manure gave practically the same effect as a combined 

 dressing of 2 cwt. of super and 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda. Its effects are 

 more likely to persist than the other nitrogenous manure®, and its effects 

 should be noticed for some years. 



Plot 3 should really, however, be compared with Plot 6. Lime 

 alone gave a total yield of 8 tons 10.6 cwt. The addition of 10 tons of 

 stable manure resulted in an increase of 2 tons 2 cwt. per acre, worth 

 £5 5s. As the labour involved in its production would not exceed 

 2s. 6d. per ton, the net profit per acre is at least £2 5s. 



Stable manure has an additional advantage over the other manures 

 applied. It is bulky, and when applied in winter as a top dressing and 



Fig. 4. — View of Lucerne Spring-tooth Cultivator at Work, State 

 Eesearch Farm, Werribee. 



cultivated in it helps to prevent surface caking, and thus acts as a mulch 

 as well as permitting the air and water to penetrate the soil. 



Lucerne Makes a Heavy Drain on the Soil. 



Even if tlie results of manurial tests were not available, a moment's 

 reflection on the quantity of nutrients removed from the soil by a lucerne 

 croj) would suggest the possible advantage of liberal dressings of manures, 

 particularly phos])hates. In considering the quantity of ))lant nutrients 

 removed by a lu(;erne crop, we will suppose that the whole of the crop 

 is removed in the form of hay. Under these circumstances Plot 11, 

 yielding 7 tons 17^ cwt. per acre, would remove tlie following nutrients 

 per acre : — 



Nitrogen, 321 lbs. per acre. 



Potash, 348 lbs. per acre. 



Phos,plioric acid, 65 lbs. per acre. 



Lime, 349 lbs. j^er acre. 



