112 THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK. 



FERTILISER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIFFERENT 



CROPS.* 



In the following pages are given manurial recommendations for different 

 crops. These recommendations are based on actual field experience on the 

 Department's farms and orchards, farmers' experiment plots, and elsewhere. 



Cereal Crops. 



Wheat. — Experience has shown that there is only one fertiliser that wheat- 

 growers in New South Wales need consider, and that is superphosphate. 

 Although differing local conditions may make advisable some variation from 

 the quantities recommended, and although it is well worth any grower's 

 while to ascertain by experiment what such variation (if any) should be, it 

 may be said that in the Riveiina and on the South-western Slopes growers 

 should never fail to sow about 56 lb. of superphosphate per acre with the 

 seed. In the central-western districts the most satisfactory amount has been 

 found to be somewhere between 40 and 56 lb. In the north-west district 

 manuring with superphosphate is not so essential. 



Oats. — Oats, like wheat, require manuring under most conditions, and 

 respond bountifully to the application of superphosphate. On most soils, 

 from 40 to 56 lb. per acre will be found sufficient ; but on poorer lands the 

 quantity can be increased up to f cwt. with beneficial results. 



They appear to respond much more to heavy manuring than wheat. When 

 sown early in the season ^ cwt. of superphosphate is ample ; but as the sowing- 

 season advances, the quantity can be slightly increased. In coastal districts, 

 where there are practically no drills, and the manure (if used) has to be 

 broadcasted, the quantity per acre should be increased to double that 

 recommended for sowing with the drill. 



Maize. — It is almost impossible to make the soil too rich for maize^ 

 Unlike the other cereals, maize requires not only various quantities, but 

 different kinds of manures, according to the district in which the crop is to 

 he grown. There is no doubt that farmyard or stable manure, if readily 

 available, is the most desirable manure for this crop. It not only gives a 

 substantial increase in the immediate yield, but the beneficial effect on the 

 soil of a single application lasts for several years. 



Leguminous crops (peas, beans, vetches, clovers, &c.), the roots of which 

 have the capacity of living in association with certain bacteria that fix the 

 free nitrogen of the atmosphere in small nodules or excrescences on the roots,, 

 are the cheapest and best means of supplying nitrogen to maize soils. 



The best fertiliser for the grain crop differs from that for a green fodder 

 crop. The" various applications that have been found most profitable for 

 grain and for fodder in the different parts of the State are given below : — 



North Coast ... ... Grain. — Equal parts of bonedust and superphosphate at 



the rate of 2 cwt. of the mixture per acre, or 2 cwt. 

 superphosphate alone. 

 Fodder. — A mixture of 2 cwt. superphosphate and i cwt. 

 sulphate of ammonia per acre. 

 SotTTH Coast ... ... Grain. — Equal parts of superphosphate and bonedust at 



the rate of 2 cwt. per acre, or 2 cwt. of superphosphate 

 alone. 

 Fodder. — 1 cwt. superphosphate per acre. 



Compiled by the Field and Chemist's Branches. 



