114 THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



Sorghum. — Where farmyard manure is available, it can be applied broad- 

 cast at the rate of 10 tons per acre, and lightly harrowed in. Green manuring 

 is not sufficient in itself to maintain the fertility of the land ; neither is 

 farmyard manure. Artificial manures are also required to make up the 

 deficiencies. As the result of many experiments with fertilisers for sorghum 

 on the North Coast, an application of 2 cwt. superphosphate per acre is 

 recommended where farmyard manure has been applied or where green 

 manuring has been practised. Where the soil is deficient in decaying organic 

 matter and consequently in nitrogen, .} cwt. sulphate of ammonia or nitrate 

 of soda should be added to this superphosphate. On the South Coast and 

 ♦Southern Tablelands where the yields of fodder are lower than on the North 

 Coast, from 1 to 1| cwt. superphosphate per acre is recommended. The 

 manuring depends very largely upon the nature of the soil. On light sandy 

 .soils more potash, and possibly more of the nitrogenous manure, are required, 

 while on good clay soils less potash may be used. Superphosphate, or some 

 other form of phosphatic manure, nearly always gives good results on all 

 classes of soils, and should not be omitted. Superphosphate is particularly 

 valuable in promoting vigorous development of the young growth, especially 

 in the early spring and in cold climates where young sorghum plants are apt 

 to grow slowly and become choked by weed growth if they have not the 

 stimulation that is given by this fertiliser. 



The artificial manures should always be sown with the seed by using a 

 fertiliser attachment on the drill. If the seed is sown by hand in drills, the 

 manure should be scattered along them first. As good results cannot be 

 expected from manure sown broadcast, as are obtained when it and the seed 

 are put in together with a drill. The manure is then placed in such a 

 position that it can be utilised immediately by the young plants, and fulfils 

 one of its functions by inducing a vigorous healthy start. 



Sudan Grass. — Increased yields are obtained from the application of 

 chemical fertilisers, and experiments have shown that 1 to 2 cwt. of super- 

 phosphate per acre or a mixture containing equal parts of superphosphate 

 and bonedust can be used with profit. The effect of manure is most apparent 

 in the first growth, as a rule, increasing the percentage of flag, succulence, 

 stooling propensities, and height of stalk. 



Root Crops. 



Potatoes. — The following manures and mixtures have been found suitable 

 for potatoes in the different parts of the State, the amounts indicated being 

 those required per acre : — 



North Coast and Central Coast ... 2 cwt. superphosphate or 1^ cwt. superphos- 

 phate and li cwt. bonedust. 



North Coast Plateau ... ... 1£ cwt. superphosphate and 1} cwt. bonedust. 



South Coast ... ... ... ... 2 cwt. superphosphate and h cwt. sulphate or 



muriate of potash. 



Northern Tablelands ... ... 1^ cwt. superphosphate and 1 -J cwt. bonedust ; 



on sandy soil use 2 cwt. superphosphate and 

 \ cwt. sulphate or muriate of potash. 



Central Tablelands ... ... ... 1£ cwt. superphosphate, and H cwt. bonedust. 



Southern Tablelands ... ... 1 cwt. superphosphate, 1 cwt. bonedust, and 



\ cwt. sulphate or muriate of potash. 



Turnips and Sivedes. — The rapidity of growth of turnips and swedes 

 necessitates a ready supply of all the soil constituents they require and the 

 substance above all others thus in demand is phosphoric acid. Superphosphate 



