farmer. In complete fertilisers the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potas 
178 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Mar., 1h) 
By taking advantage of this property of leguminous crops, we may obit? fe 
from them a portion (and sometimes even all) of the nitrogen required by ™) 
crops. If ploughed under, the legumes will not only furnish nitrogen 1 * i 
soil, but also humus, which improves its physical condition. This is know |) 
“green manuring.” On sandy land and in a hot climate, it is not adyisallt y) 
plough under a heavy growth of these plants while in a green condition il 
the soil is very deficient in vegetable matter, the crop should be allowed 0) 
upon the land and then be ploughed under in cool weather. If it is neces! 
however, to plough under a green crop, a good dressing of lime, not less 
30 bushels per acre, should be applied to prevent injurious souring of the Jat 
Barnyard or stable manure is regarded by many farmers as “a com 
fertiliser.” This is correct only so far as it contains all three oO, 
fertiliser ingredients, but these ingredients do not‘exist therein in the propo”) 
required by most crops. Stable manure contains proportionately too ™) 
nitrogen and not enough phosphoric acid and potash to be consid 
“complete fertiliser.”’ wl 
By a proper rotation of crops and by “green manuring,” stable ma | 
can, in fact, be dispensed with, and in some cases such a course is even PI 
able. The old saying that stable manure is indispensable to successful far") 
is not now regarded as an axiom. A manure containing an excess of me 
will unduly increase the growth of leaf and straw at the expense of fru! ail 
grain. To avoid sucha result, stable manure should always be suppleme™) 
with artificial fertilisers containing phosphoric acid and potash. ‘il 
The amount of kainit which sbould be added to fresh stable manure} 
prevent loss of ammonia through heating is 1 Ib. per day for each cow or al] 
or for eight head of sheep. The kainit will save more than its cost in the mI 
a: we nitrogen which it retains, and will possess its original value as Po | 
ood. 
Swampy and peaty soils, which consist largely of humus, and which, 
rule, are rich in nitrogen, derive only slight benefit from stable manure. ne 
soils need lime, potash, and often phosphoric acid. The application of Y 
forms of fertiliser is followed by largely increased crops. Phosphoric acid 
potash will prove of slight value when applied as “top dressing” during 
growing season When so applied, these fertilisers will stay on the surface 
out of the reach of the roots of the plants. Phosphoric acid and potas? 'j} 
“fixed” or retained by the soil. They are not volatile, nor do they { ‘AI 
through the soil. It is quite different with nitrogen. When organic Mj) 
exposed to the air, decomposes, a portion of the nitrogen present volatilise> "| 
is lost in the atmosphere. The remainder, unless absorbed by vegetatiom | | 
finally washed away. Nitrogen in the form of nitrates readily leaches pea 
the soil. Nitrate of soda may, therefore, well be applied asa top dressing dum) 
the growing season. + able 
The commercial fertilisers now in the market are the most des!™,,| 
supplements and substitutes for stable manure that can be obtained 
S = 22S 
J 
a S 
as] 
| 
Sees 
St ee 
Qu 
SS = 
skilfully compounded in various proportions. ‘They are in a finely grou 
thoroughly commingled condition, can be applied by drilling, and can be at 
mixed with the soil. Their value is accurately determined by the ¥" | 
agricultural stations, and the interests of the farmer carefully protected. 
ze 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. | 
Aw American paper remarks that the school to which the farmer should send Bs 
boys, if he desires them to inherit his acres and keep his homestead, is 
his boy can be taught agriculture, pure and undefiled, in all its branches: i 
the school that gives employment to teachers that have good prae xe'| 
agricultural sense, instead of theoretical agricultural nonsense. The 4 ,9| 
trouble in many schools where agricultural science is taught is that the tea” | 
