534 Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [lo Sept., 19 r 3. 



SPRAYING AGAINST POTATO DISEASES. 



Experiments have been conducted for twenty years on potato spraying 

 at the Vermont Experiment Station, U.S.A., and Bulletin ijcp gives a 

 summary account of the results. It is stated that by the application of 

 iJordeaux mixture there was an average increase for the twenty years of 

 105 bushels per acre, equal to 64 per cent. gain. The gain from the use 

 of the spray ranged from 18 per cent, in 1910 when there was no disease, 

 up to 215 per cent, in 1901 when diseases were very prevalent. While 

 the figures quoted show most satisfactory results, it has to be recollected 

 that much depends on the time and manner of applying the spray, and 

 also upon the climatic conditions. In the absence of disease, Bordeaux 

 mixture is believed to increase the yield by toning up the plant. 



SEED TESTING 



A knowledge of the quality of seed sown is necessary in the case of 

 any crop, but it is particularly necessary in the case of the smaller seeds 

 such as grasses and clovers. There are two respects in which samples may 

 fall short. First, the sample may have a low percentage of purity due to 

 the presence of foreign and weed seeds. Second, the true seeds in the 

 sample may show a low perceniage of germination. Dealing with this ques- 

 tion, a number of examples of the need for seed-testing are given in the ^ 

 Journal of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. One of these 

 may be quoted. The price for a certain line of white clover was is. id. 

 per lb., and good white clover could be purchased for is. 6d. The cheaper 

 sample gave a purity of 64 per cent., and a germination of 2td> P^r cent. 

 From these figures it is apparent that 100 lbs. of the "seed " contained 

 just over 21 lbs. of pure white clover capable of growing. The germinat- 

 ing capacity of the weed seeds is not stated, but it is asserted that the 

 greatest factor in the spread of weeds in New Zealand is the use of impure 

 seeds. Cheap seed is always bad, and there are no "bargains" in the seed 

 trade. The sowing of cheap, weed-infested seed is the most expensive 

 policy that a farmer can adopt, and the germination of grass and clover 

 seeds should be ascertained before buying. 



MANURING FOR MILK. 



Experiments on the manuring of cow pastures were started in 1909 by 

 the Midland Agricultural and Dairy College, England. In the spring of 

 that year, 8 acres were dressed with 10 cwt. ground lime per acre. A few- 

 days later one-half of this area received 4 cwt. superphosphate and 

 I J cwt. sulphate of poLash per acre. The two 4-acre plots were then sepa- 

 rately fenced off, and no further applications of manure have been made 

 to them. The method of the experiments was to graze cows on the plots 

 each summer and note the respective milk yields. At first two cows were 

 allotted to each plot, but it was found later that three could be carried. 

 The two lots of three cows exchanged plots every fortnight in order to 

 eliminate differences in the milking capacitv of the cows. The experiments 

 have completed their third year, and each vear the manured section has 

 yielded most milk. The original cost of the manures was jQi 9s. per acre, 

 and over the three years the gross revenue from the manured section has 

 been increased by jQ6 5s. 6d. per acre, leaving a net profit of jQ^. i6s. 6d. 

 per acre from the use of the manures. It is estimated that the manures 

 are not vet exhausted. 



