1 Jury, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 75 
Itis not generally known that farmyard and green manures are not always of much 
value to any extent—that is, as fertilisers for leguminous plants, as they are deficient 
in phosporus and potash. Nitrogen is their strong point, and it isnearly all available 
in the first year, and they are very valuable for Indian corn, potatoes, beets, mangolds, 
and all the Brassica tribe, as these plants respond quickly to the increased supply 
of nitrogen. Then we have the chemical manures, of which there are many. With 
these, intelligently applied, we have the power to make our lands perfect for growin 
any crops, as with them we can supply the correct amount of potash or phosporic tt 
and lime, but they require to be intelligently applied, for, as 1 said before, it is of no 
use to put the wrong manures on the wrong ground. 
For the benefit of those who do not know how the different plant foods act, I may 
state briefly that nitrogen acts to a certain extent as a stimulant to plant life. It 
promotes the leaf and wood growth. Juarge dark-green leaves, which we all like to 
see, and consequently vigorous assimilation and large, well-formed plants, ears, or 
fruit, are the result of nitrogen manuring. 
Phosphoric acid conduces to the formation of grain, blossoms, and fruit. 
Potash is the most important ingredient necessary for the promotion of strong 
growth as wellas of heavy yield. 
Lime, in conjunction with potash, strengthens the fibre of all plants. 
What does my land require? Many a struggling farmer would like to know 
this. He wants tomanure, and does so with the first material he can Jay his hands 
on. Perhapshe uses the very thing the land does not require. He goes on slaving at 
a large area and getting but small return for his labour, whereas with a little informa- 
tion and knowledge he would get double the crop from half the area. 
This brings me to what I wish to lead up to. The Agricultural Department tries 
to do, and doubtless does do, a great amount of good for agriculture in this State. 
And agriculture does a great deal for the State also. The Department employs an 
analytical chemist and runs a laboratory, I believe. Why should the Department not 
take the lead and so arrange the laboratory staff that a bond fide agriculturist can get 
his soil analysed for a low figure. Then, knowing what his soil is deficient in, he will 
know what it requires, and can act accordingly. I believe that, in Germany, analyses 
are made for such a low fee as to be practically free. I am aware that soils are now 
analysed by the Department, but I think the fee demanded is prohibitive to poor 
struggling farmers. 
My paper has not been an exhaustive one, but it is enough for discussion, and I 
hope will cause some of my fellow-farmers to pause, think, and act, and so will find it 
profitable for them in every way by ensuring for them better crops, less work, and 
more money. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Tos. Brynre (Cairns): Mr. Biddles’ paper appeals to all of us, and 
especially to us cane men. A matter that I am anxious to bring forward is 
the export of meatworks manure, and I would like to see a petition to the 
Federal Government asking for the imposition of an export tax on such manure. 
Meatworks manure contains most of the constituents our soils require, and 
something should be done to prevent it going out of the country as it does. 
Mr. W. Jackin (Zillmere): Manuring is a very important question, and 
it seems a sin to see the way thousands of tons of nightsoil are thrown away 
annually in Brisbane. Something should be done to put this fine manure into 
a portable form for the use of farmers instead of allowing it to be thrown into 
the sea as itis now. If it could be dried (not burned, for that would destroy 
the nitrogen in it) we would be able to handle it, and this would be far 
preferable to the present wasteful system of disposing of such a valuable 
fertiliser. The urine could be drawn off into closed-in tanks. 
Mr. Rrpney (North Pine): I have had a good deal of experience with 
the manure mentioned by Mr. Jacklin, and may say that the municipality of 
South Brisbane burn their nightsoil and supply it to farmers. Zillmere takes 
hundreds of tons of this prepared nightsoil manure, and if this Conference 
could induce the municipality of North Brisbane to do the same as South 
Brisbane is doing we would get that manure a great deal cheaper. The 
advantage of sanitary manure over meatworks manure, on heavy land especially 
is something wonderful. I tried bonedust on pineapples, and found that 
the pines were getting worse every year. The last few years I made an appli- 
cation of about 20 tons of sanitary manure to the acre with the very best 
results. I find, moreover, that I can get 12 tons of that manure for the same 
