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78 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 190\. — 
state that Mr. Lee is almost right in his expression of opinion, that we really 
know at present very little with regard to the available plant foods in a soil. 
from its simple agricultural analysis. To give an instance how difficult it often 
is to Judge the requirements of a soil from the ordinary short analysis, I wap 
state that Mr. Guthrie, the Agricultural Chemist of New South Wales, carried 
out a series of very extensive experiments with wheats at the Bathurst and 
Wagga expermment farms, the results of which were published in the Jast 
number (April) of the New South Wales Agricultural Gazette. The short 
analysis of the soils was given for comparison. Strange to say, the results 
showed that the soil richest in nitrogen was most benefited by the application 
of nitrogenous manures. The one soil contained °24 per cent. nitrogen, the 
other only ‘06 per cent. The latter soil seemed to contain sufficient nitrogen to 
do justice to the growing crop, whereas with the other soil nitrogenous manures 
had to be applied to get good results. Every farmer has, however, the power 
of finding out what his soil requires to a great extent in his own hands by simply 
carrying out a few manuring experiments. Such experiments need not entail 
much expenditure, as they are carried out on very small blocks, but still the 
information gained would be invaluable. Jn some manuring experiments carried 
out in Switzerland, unmanured blocks gave a crop of 13 bushels of wheat per acke. 
Six different experiments were carried out on the land. The crops of the incom- 
pletely manured blocks varied from 15 to 20 bushels per acre. A block with a 
complete manure yielded 27 bushels; an addition of lime to the same complete 
manure increased the yield by another 5 bushels per acre. It will thus be— 
seen that by the addition of some extra lime the value of the manuring was_ 
considerably increased. With regard to stable manure and the remarks which 
have been made, that its value is influenced by the food of the stock, I may say that 
this point has to be considered, but the last speaker’s remarks are of still greater 
importance. Stable manure must be collected in properly constructed compost 
heaps. In a climate like ours a great loss of nitrogen would follow if the 
manure is simply collected in small heaps here and there. The compost hea 
must always be kept thoroughly moist, and layers of straw alternate with layers 
of manure in order that the nitrogen may be absorbed. With regard to a 
Fertiliser Act, I must state that the late Mr. Chataway had the matter under 
consideration. ‘There is no doubt that it is of the greatest importance that a 
farmer should be able to depend upon the quality of the manure he is buying. — 
The analysing of every shipload of manures would be impracticable, and would — 
be of no value with regard to a special lot of manure a farmer should happen — 
to buy. Manures should only be bought under guarantee with regard to com- 
position from the supplier. Nightsoil is certainly of great value, and should 
not be wasted; but if burnt, a lot of its ingredients would be lost. I have not — 
yet seen a sample of the prepared nightsoil from the South Brisbane Company, — 
and do not know how it is made. However, if it is simply desiccated it would 
be of far more value than if burnt. 
Mr. P. Bropres (Tiaro): Tam glad my paper,has caused a discussion, as it 
was chiefly with that object in view that 1t was read. I may mention an 
instance of the value of manuring. A person I know of took up a piece of | 
scrub land at a cost of £15 an acre. Another man came alongside of him and — 
bought some forest land at 80s. an acre. The latter manured his land to the | 
extent of £4 10s. per acre, making its total cost £6 per acre. He now gets — 
better crops than the owner of the scrub land, and, if he keeps on manuring, — 
will continue to do so. 
The Hon. D. H. Datrrympre: It has been complained that the Agricultural — 
Department charges a somewhat high price for analyses. I wish to point out — 
that the fee charged to farmers, whatever may be the price, is only half the — 
cost. The taxpayers of the State pay the other half. 1t has been suggested — 
that a law be passed to prevent meatworks manures from being sent out of the — 
State. After all, they have been prepared by companies who have debts to pay — 
to the Government, and one might suppose they were entitled to whatever they — 
could get for these preparations. The manure is their property, and I think, if 
