THE CHEMISTRY OF THE SOIL. 1 1 $ 



Northern Tableland ... Grain or Fodder. — £ cwt. superphosphate and } cwt. sul- 

 phate of ammonia or nitrate of soda per acre. 



SoUTHIRN TABLELAND ... Fodder. — 2 cwt. superphosphate per acre. 



North western Slopes ... Grain. — 1 cwt. superphosphate per acre. 



Tumct ami District .. Grain. — 1 to 2 cwt. superphosphate and J cwt. sulphate of 



ammonia or nitrate of soda per acre. 



Millet (Broom). — .Such crops as eowpeas, field-peas, vetches, and clovers art- 

 suitable for green manuring for this crop and may be ploughed under when 

 they have reached the blooming stage or have been grazed off by stock. This 

 latter system works well when mixed farming is carried out, and stock of 

 different kinds are kept. Any vegetable matter should be ploughed under 

 early, to give it ample time to decompose before sowing. Farmyard manure, 

 it' available, is also a first-rate manure to apply, as it not only supplies the 

 elements required by the plants, but also improves the mechanical condition 

 of the soil. Chemical manures are also valuable, and while not generally 

 practised, it has been found beneficial, even on our richest soils, to apply 

 about 1 cwt. of superphosphate per acre with the seed. Besides giving the 

 plants a quick start— necessary when weeds are to be dealt with — it helps 

 the crop to mature earlier, and in most instances increased yields are the 

 result. At Mondrook much benefit has been derived from fertilisers, even 

 when applied to the previous crop. 



An excessive dressing of manure tends to produce a strong coarse brush. 



Winter Green Fodders. 



Coastal Districts. — On the whole 1 cwt. superphosphate per acre has given 

 the best results with winter green fodders on the coast. In experiments 

 carried out by the Department the addition of 28 lb. of sulphate of potash 

 to 1 cwt. superphosphate has produced an average increase of 6 cwt. green 

 fodder per acre, but the value of this increase is more than counterbalanced 

 by the cost of potash fertiliser at present, so that it cannot be recommended. 

 The application of 2 cwt. Thomas' phosphate has given a greater increase 

 than 1 cwt. superphosphate per acre, and also a higher net profit per acre 

 (taking pre-war cost of fertiliser), but unfortunately this fertiliser is not 

 quoted on the market just now. 



Southern Tablelands. — Not many tests have yet been made with fertilisers 

 for green winter fodders on the Southern Tablelands, but the few that have 

 been conducted indicate that 2 cwt. superphosphate per acre is the best 

 fertiliser. 



North-western District. — Insufficient results from fertilisers have so far 

 been obtained in this district, and their general use cannot therefore be 

 recommended. 



Northern Tablelands. — In the cooler New England district, an application 

 of, say, 2 cwt. superphosphate is advisable. 



Other Fodders. 



Lucerne and Clover. — Sow £ cwt. superphosphate with the seed to get 

 quick growth of seedling plants, and top-dress established stands with 2 cwt. 

 of superphosphate per acre in winter or early spring. Top-dressing with 

 superphosphate has given remarkable results in the rehabilitation of old 

 lucerne stands, up to 400 per cent, increases in the subsequent crop being 

 obtained in some cases. 



