Oct. 1> 1900.] 
THE TKOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
227 
in the hole that is dug for the plant, so that the 
young plant will have a sufficiency of plant food 
from the start, and therefore make a rapid growth. 
Subsequent manurings should be applied broadcast 
round the plants or, in the case of old plantations, 
over the whole of the groupd, so as not to confine 
the roots to one particular spot, and then chipped, 
harrowed, or cultivated in. The best time to apply 
such fertiliser is in early spring before the summer 
growth starts, as it will then be arailable for use 
when growth takes place. 
Mix as follows : — cwt. 
Superphosphate ... .. 6 
Meatworks manure ... ... 6 
Nipho,. .. .. .. 6 
Sulphate of potash . . . . 2 
20 
This will contain— 5i per cent, of nitrogen, 5 per 
oent.j:of potash, 9i per cent, of phosphoric acid, 
of which 5 per cent, is water soluble, and be worth 
£o 163. per ton. 
The first application to the young plants when 
planting should be at the rate of 4 lb. per plant, 
and subsequent manurings should not be less than 
10 cwt. pec acre. 
If wished, 2 cwt. of the nipho can be replaced 
bv 2 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia. This will in- 
crease the percentage of nitrogen by, '8 per cent, 
and the cost by 9s. per ton. 
FOR PINES. 
For pines no manure is equal to good farm 
manure, or well prepared compost. If the farm 
manure used contains a considerable proportion of 
sawdust, as is often the case when it is obtained 
from town livery or 'bus stables, it should be allowed 
to become thoroughly fermented before it is applied 
as this will tend to remove any deleterious proper- 
ties of the sawdust. Where a commercial fertiliser 
is requited, the plant food contained therein should 
be in a readily available form ; and this has been 
especially noticeable at Eedland B-iy Experiment 
Orchard, where the application of superphosphate 
and sulphate of ammonia— particularly the latter— 
has produced very rapid and marked results. Where 
the laud is impoverished it is advisable to apply, 
the manure previous to setting out the plants, which 
will then make a good start, but in rich laud this 
is not necessary. The best way to apply the 
manure in this case is to take out a trench with the 
plough where the line of plants is to be planted ; 
spread the manure in this trench and thoroughly 
mix it with the soil by running a Planet Jr. cum- 
vator with only two narrow teeth up and down the 
trench, the plants belt g then set and the earth 
drawn round them. If commercial fertilisers are 
applied without being thoroughly mixed with the 
soil in this or similar manner, they are apt to burn 
the young plants should dry weather follow the 
planting. In any case, unless well mixed there will 
be more likelihood of loss, and the plants are not 
Bo well able to obtain it as it is in one spot instead 
of being evenly distributed. 
In applying commercial fertilisers to older plants, 
especially when same are grown into a thick mass, 
I strongly advise their being composted as previously 
described instead of being applied direct h^ 
will supply both plant food and humus as well 
cover for the surface roots, which is apt to (jq 
vashed off by heavy rain. 
The fertilisers should be made as follows :— 
cwt. 
Superphosphate . . . . 9 
Meatworks manure . . , . 5 
Sulphate of ammonia ... .. 4 
Sulphate of potash .. .. 2 
20 
This will contain 5i per cent, of nitrogen. 5 per 
cent of potash, 11 per cent, of phosphoric acid of 
which 7§ per cent, is water soluble, and is worth 
£6 12s. per ton. 
Proportionate amounts of dried blood or nipho can 
be used in the place of the sulphate of ammonia 
the proportion of superphosphate being reduced ac, 
cordiugly. This will reduce the price of the manure- 
but at the same time reduce the proportion o, 
soluble phosphoric acid. For pines in full bearingf 
at least half a ton to the acre should be applied 
if no farm manure is used ; less in proportion to 
the quantity of farm manure applied. 
FOR STONE FRUITS. 
Use a similar manure to that recommended for 
citrus, but reduce the nitrogen and increase the 
phosphoric acid and potash. 
FOR STRAWBERRIES. 
As the strawberry is a quick growing crop in this 
colony, and, as a rule, the plants only occupy the 
ground a few months, quick-acting fertilisers are es- 
sential. Well rotted farm manure dug into the 
ground sometime previous to planting is an excellent 
preparation for the crop, but when the soil is at 
all poor the following fertiliser should be placed 
in shallow furrows and well mixed with the 
soil as previously described in the case of pinea, 
the plants set out and the soil drawn round them. 
The composition of the fertiliser is as follows ;— 
cwt. 
Superphosphate ... .. 10 
Sulphflte of ammonia . .. 5 
Sulphate of potash .. .. 5 
20 
This will contain 5 per cent, of nitrogen, 124 per 
cent, of potash, 8^ per cent, of phosphoric acid, all 
water soluble; and is worth £B 2s. 6d. per ton. 
From 4 to 6 cwt. to the acre, according to the 
richness of the soil, is a sufficient dressing. Thia 
manure will also suit Cape gooseberries and tomatoes 
FOR VEGETABLES OTHER THAN PULSES. 
In order to produce good vegetables they mast be 
grown quickly, thus the application of quick-acting 
manures is required. This will be obtained by the 
following mixture; — 
Cwt. 
Superphosphate .. .. 14 
Sulphate of ammonia . . . . 5 
Potash.. .. .. 1 
20 
This will contain 5 per cent, of nitrogen, 2J per 
cent, of potash, 12 per cent, of phosphoric acid — all 
water soluble, and is worth £6 5s. 6d. per ton. 
Apply from 4 to 6 cwt. to the acre. Instead of 
using all superphosphate, half bone phosphate and 
half superphosphate can be used. This will reduce 
the price 73. 6i. per ton, and will render the man- 
ure more lasting. 
In applying commercial fertilisers to vege- 
tables, it is best to mix them thoroughly 
with the soil before planting, but, if wished, they 
can be used as a top dressing, taking care to distri- 
bute them evenly, and not to allow them to cover 
the leaves of the plants, as if so they will be very 
apt to scorch or burn them. 
FOR OATS, BARLEY, CORN, OR SORGHUM, 
WHEN USED FOR FODDER. 
A quick-acting manure is required, which should 
be applied at the same time that the seed is sown, 
and harrowed in the case of broadcast crops. If 
the corn or sorghum is sown in drills, the manure 
should be applied as recommended in the case of 
planting pines. It can be made fts fpllows ;— 
