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TOP-DRESSING OATS. j
"Inquirer," Cranbrook, writes:-We
bave some crop (oats) on new
ground, and it does not appear to be
coming on very well. We would
like to know if a dressing of about
501b. of super would help it much.
It has had 100 to 110 Ob. drilled
in with 6eed. The land is well
drained and fairly good loam.
As- the crop had 100 to 110 lb, of
Sliper drilled in with thc seed and thc
land is well drained and fairly good
loam, I éa~ not think that the condi-
tion of «the crop is due to back of phos-
phoric acid, and if such is the case thc
addition of another oGlb. of super would
not be likely to remedy the trouble., I
am sorry that "Inquirer" did not give
«ne some idea of the appearance of the
Crop, but I presume that he means lt
looks sickly and Jacks a good colour. It
is probable that some of the outer leaves
are yellowish or brownish, and there is
en absence of that bright vigorous green
which indicates that a crop is doing well.
If my guess is correct, I wouJd advise
broadcasting, say. 28 or 36 lb. of nitrate
of soda or sulphate of ammonia per acre
Over the ground before a rain. I do
not think that there is likely to he much
difference between the two, although ni-
trate of soda is considered. to act more
quickly, BO -that it is largely a matter
of cost and convenience as to which is
need. I 'think the prices are very much
the same, but the sulphate' of ammonia
contains more nitrogen for a given
weight of fertiliser. At this -time of the j
year in the colder, wetter districts crops
are very apt to look yellow and sickly,
and an application of one of these nitro-
genous fertilisers has a wonderful effect
& a very short linne. Perhaps it would
be well for mo to relate the following
example:-Soon after I came to the
State I was visiting a farm and the
owner was^ commenting on the s.ickly
appearance of his oats. This was on a
Sunday. I advised him to sow half a
hundredweight of sulphate of ammonia
to the acre, and watch the results. He
did this on Monday morning, and there
happened to be a nico shower of rain.
I was there on the following Suuday,
and thc difference in the crop was mar-
vellous. It had lost its sickly colour,
end was turning grenu; on the next Sun-
day it was a bright green and growing
vigorously. I ha vc. frequently applied
euffiphate of ammonia andi nitrate of soda
On a yellow lawn, and in a week a
change is seen, while in a fortnight the
change is remarkable.
If either of those fertilisers falls on
the plants n is apt to scorch some of
the leaves, but no: to any great extent,
¿ut if a shower follows the application,
pithing but good will be seen. Even
if the fertiliser does damage a few leaves
no fear need be felt as to the ultimate
result. If a very heavy rain falls just
afiter an application of one of these fer- !
tilisors. some of it may be washedaway; !
that is wJiy one should) always eudea- j
vour to choose one's time for this top-
dressing. Showers are wanted, but not
heavy rain. I mere!} anenton this, but
do not want to frighten my correspon
I dent. If 561b. be considered too costly,
I use 2SLb.. for even that small quantity
will have a wonderful effect. It might
be advisable to give a slight applica-
tion immediately and another in a fort-
night.
$