416 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [aug., 



had been let for grazing for a number of years, and had been dressed 

 with no other manure than basic slag. Various combinations of potash 

 and phosphates were applied, but with no striking results on the weight 

 of crop. A considerable effect was produced, however, on the quality 

 of the herbage. Where no manure was used it was poor and full of 

 weeds, containing little clover; but on the manured plots white clover 

 was abundant, and there was some red clover. 



Manuring for Milk (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Bull. i 5 

 1910-11). — This experiment was begun in 1909 for the purpose of 

 ascertaining whether superphosphate and sulphate of potash would give 

 profitable returns on pasture land used for grazing cows for milk. A 

 field in poor condition adjoining the college farm was taken, and two 

 plots of four acres each were fenced in. The soil was of a strong, clayey 

 nature, typical of most soils on the Keuper Marl formation. On 

 account of indications of lack of lime, 10 cwt. per acre of ground lime 

 was applied on both plots in the spring of 1909. On one plot 4 cwt. 

 of superphosphate and i£ cwt. of sulphate of potash were applied 

 immediately afterwards, while to the other plot no manure other than 

 the lime w T as given. No further manures were used in 19 10. The 

 effect was tested by comparing the milk yield of the cows. Two cows 

 were grazed on each plot for a fortnight; they were then changed over, 

 the two that had been on the no-manure plot going to the manured 

 plot, and vice versa. This continued for five months, so that each lot 

 of cows visited each plot five times. In order to allow the cows 

 time to get accustomed to the different pasture, the milk of the second 

 week of each fortnight only was taken into account, and the amount 

 doubled to represent the fortnight's milk. By thus changing the cows 

 from one plot to the other the effect of differences between the cows 

 was minimised, and the only factor that would influence the result 

 would be the manures applied. 



Owing to the manured plot having much improved, a third cow 

 was put on it on May 16th at the same time as the other cows, and 

 kept on the same plot till the end of the season. In 1909 the third cow 

 was introduced in July. During the five months the yield of the two 

 cows while on the unmanured plot was 6,688 lb., and while on the 

 manured plot 6,841 lb. The yield of the third cow on the latter plot 

 was 3,392 lb., so that the total excess on the manured plot in 1910 

 was 3,545 lb., or 86 gallons, per acre. This confirms the result obtained 

 in 1909, when an increase of 84 gallons per acre was obtained. The 

 milk yield of the unmanured plot was 1,157 lb. more than in 1909, 

 which would appear to indicate either an improvement of the pasture 

 from the use of lime, or that it was a better grazing season, or perhaps 

 a combination of the two causes. 



Manuring of Seeds Hay (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Bull. 2, 

 1910-11). — This trial has been carried out during four years at twenty 

 centres altogether, in order to find whether seeds hay could be profitably 

 manured, and if so, the best mixture for the purpose. Twelve plots 

 of one-twentieth acre have been manured at each centre, care being 

 taken to choose land as even as possible in character. Two plots 

 were left unmanured, two received nitrogen and phosphates, and six 

 complete dressings of varying composition. Taking the average of 

 the twenty trials, the most profitable results have been given by the 

 following two complete mixtures : — (1) 100 lb. sulphate of ammonia, 



