460 Journal, of Ar/ncuHure, Victoria. [10 Aug., 1916. 



(3) The addition of phosphates, no matter whether in the form of 

 super, basic slag, or bone dust, enabled the limit of production to be 

 raised to 9 tons 13 cwt. — an increase of 35 cwt. — which was very profit- 

 able. 



(4) Of all the phosphatic manures super was the most eflfective. _ It 

 was almost as effective applied by itself as when applied in conjunction 

 with lime. 



(5) There is no manure that is likely to give the lucerne grower 

 such substantial and .profitable results as the dressing of 2 cwt. of super 

 applied every two years. For an outlay of 10s. per acre (Plot 12) an 

 increase of 35 cwt. was secured, valued at £4 7s. 6d. 



(6) The addition of nitrogenous manures, combined with super and 

 lime, enabled the limit of production to be raised to 10 tons 12 J cwt., 

 an increase of 2f tons as compared with the no-manure plot. 



(7) Despite the fact that the lucerne can secure nitrogen from the 

 air, the tests show that, on Werribee soils, the application of nitrates, 

 is likely to be a profitable practice. 



(8) Stable manure in dressings of 10 tons per acre is a most valuable 

 manure for lucerne, especially on worn-out soils, such as those at Werri- 

 bee. Not only does it give as good a return as a combination of super 

 and nitrate of soda, but it helps to keep the soil open and acts as a 

 mulch. 



(9) ijucerne makes a heavy drain on the mineral constituents of the 

 soil. The unmanured plot of lucerne at Werribee in two years removed 

 frdm the soil 4^ times as much phosphoric acid, 9 times as much 

 nitrogen, and thirty-six times as much potash as a 30-bushel whec t 

 crop. This alone, apart from a consideration of the actual results of 

 tests, is sufficient to suggest to the farmer the need for liberality :n 

 applying artificial fertilisers. 



(10) Lucerne also leaves in the soil large quantities of mineral food 

 gathered from the regions beyond the reach of ordinary farm crops. In 

 two years the unmanured lucerne plot had stored up in its roots enough 

 phosphoric acid to supply the need of a 30-Dushel wheat crop, enough 

 nitrogen for two such crops and enough potash for four such crops. 

 That is the reason why cereal and fodder crops thrive so well on so 1 

 that had been sown to lucerne for a number of years. 



(11) It is suggested that the lucerne fields be grazed in winter, culti- 

 vated with a spring-tooth cultivator, and top-dressed, either with 2 cwl. 

 01 super every two years, or with 1 cwt. of super per acre every winter. 



Cereal farmers never fail to apply phosphates to their cereal crops. 

 At the present time, very few lucerne growers top-dress their lucerne 

 fields with artificial manures. The Werribee results show that there 

 would be a handsome profit in the practice. 



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