40 
G. A. PFISTER 1 
These results may well be compared with the results 
obtained at Wagga (N.S.W.) by Mr. Helms : — 
Plot. 
Manuring. 
1900. 
1901. 
1903. 
1904. 
I 
No Manure 
7 f 
I 7 t 
20f 
11 
3 
Superphosphate only ........ 
22f 
33 
I 4 i 
8 
Superphosphate, Sulphate of 
Ammonia, Sulphate of 
Potash 
10 
20 \ 
32 ^ 
I 5 i 
As I mentioned before, these results are in open contra- 
diction to those obtained with similar manuring in Europe 
and America. Any text-book dealing with agriculture in 
these countries will show this to be true. 
In attempting to explain this, 1 think that in the first 
place it is the climate to which we must look for an ex- 
planation. 
In Europe and America, the wheat is sown in autumn 
and the young plants after making but little progress are 
covered with snow during the winter months. Of course, 
during this period they make no growth. Spring comes, 
the snow thaws, and only those who have witnessed such 
thawing know' what a heavy leaching of the soil it means. 
In countries where the climate is milder, and little or no 
snow falls during the winter months, the very heavy rains 
leach the ground just as much as thawing snow. The 
wheat then begins to grow in spring and grows during 
April, May and June. Now' in these months most of the 
European" and American wheat district show a rainfall of 
about 15 to 20 inches, i.e., more than our wheat lands get 
during a whole year. This means further leaching. In 
July the grain ripens ; that means, no grow th takes place, 
the saps in the plant diminish and the absorption of fresh 
plant food from the soil is very insignificant, while chemical 
changes take place within the plants which bring about 
the ripening of the grain. 
Having proceeded so far in my subject, I must stop for 
a moment and say a few words on nitrification in soils. 
A great deal has been said and written on this subject, so 
that 1 really must crave your pardon if I once more come 
to speak of it, as there might be some amongst you who 
are not quite conversant with this important phenomenon. 
Let us remember that “ bacteria,” “ baccilli,” “ micro- 
cocci,” " micro-organisms,” “ microbes,” or “ microphytes,” 
are all names which are given to minute vegetable organisms 
consisting of one single cell, which has no ordinary nucleus 
