444 



Experiment with a Turf Plough. 



stirs the soil underneath or not — as may be desired — and 

 replaces the turf in its original position. Its weight is under 

 3 cvvt, and its price £5 10s. In land that is fairly clear of 

 stones it does its work perfectly, is not a heavy draught for 

 two horses, and gets over about two acres daily. The 

 accompanying illustration shows the implement ready for 

 work. 



The immediate results of the work of this plough 

 are : — • 



(1) Air is freely admitted to the soil to a depth which is 



usually about three or four inches. 



(2) The roots of all plants are cut at a similar depth. 



(3) The soil, to the depth of two inches or so below the lower 



surface of the "furrow," is loosened, or otherwise, as 

 is desired. 



In November, 1897, the plough was used on a few acres in 

 two pasture fields in Cockle Park. It was tried upon land 

 that had previously been treated with phosphates and on 

 land that had received nothing, and it was also used with 

 and without an accompanying dressing of basic slag. In 

 one case the basic slag- was introduced underneath the turf 

 at the moment when it was passing over the breast of the 

 implement. So far as ocular inspection can be depended on 

 to determine the result, little if any benefit to the pasture 

 has followed the use of the implement. 



In order, however, to bring the results to the test of 

 definite figures, the plough was also used on certain half- 

 acre plots in a grass-field that is annually cut for hay. 

 This field has been sown down to grass for about twenty 

 years, and represents a poorish t) r pe of meadow. The soil — 

 a moderate loam resting on boulder clay — is one that might 

 be expected to benefit from aeration. 



The manures in each case consisted of a mixture sup- 

 plying per acre | cwt. sulphate of ammonia, J cwt. nitrate of 

 soda, i| cwt. basic slag, if cwt. superphosphate, and 

 1 J cwt. sulphate of potash (50 per cent, purity). The basic 

 slag and sulphate of potash were applied immediately after 

 "ploughing" in November, 1897, and again in the autumn of 

 1898; while the other substances were applied towards the 



