648 



« 



is dull and the atmosphere moist the result will be good, but 

 the spray will require a longer time to act. The early spring 

 is the best time for spraying, particularly when the leaves are 

 fresh and tender. 



The result of treating with sulphate of ammonia will be 

 evident within three days or less, depending on conditions. By 

 the end of a week, if there is a large number of Medick plants 

 present, the area treated will be recognised by the brown 

 colour due to the withering of the Medick and the consequent 

 bare patches of soil. Shortly after this the grasses exhibit 

 vigorous growth and in a few weeks the areas become green 

 unless weather conditions are adverse. It may in some cases 

 be necessary to sow a little seed on the bare patches, especially 

 if there are weeds present, which will usually have been 

 destroyed at the same time as the Medick. 



As only areas in a pasture will need treatment, the sulphate 

 can easily be applied by hand, or, if it is decided to treat the 

 whole field, a manure distributor can be employed. Sulphate 

 of ammonia possesses a double advantage as it not only destroys 

 Spotted Medick, but at the same time stimulates grasses of 

 the best quality. Hence the treatment is not a case of spend- 

 ing money only on the eradication of a weed, but of manuring 

 the pasture which will give a return for the money spent on 

 the manure and its application. 



****** 



CONCILIATION COMMITTEES : 

 A YEAR'S WORK. 



It is now twelve months since the machinery for the compul- 

 sory regulation of wages in agriculture by the Wages Board was 

 replaced by the present system of voluntary Conciliation Com- 

 mittees, and it may be of interest to review the progress of the 

 Committees up to date. 



Constitution.— Under the terms of the Corn Production Acts 

 (Eepeal) Act the members of the District Wages Committees of 

 the Agricultural Wages Board became Interim Conciliation 

 Committees pending the formation of permanent Committees. 

 The Act avoided laying down any hard and fast lines as to the 

 constitution of the Conciliation Committees, the only stipulation 

 being that they should be composed of representatives of persons 

 (whether owners or occupiers of agricultural land) employing 



