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VIEW OF CUMING SMITH AND MT. LYELL FARMERS' FERTILISERS WORKS, BASSENDEAN. THE COMPANY'S WORKS, NORTH FREMANTLE. PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, BUNBURY. Help
VIEW OF CUMING SMITH AND MT. LYELL FARMERS' FERTILISERS WORKS, BASSENDEAN.
CUMING SMITH & MOUNT LYELL
FARMERS FERTILISERS, LTD.
A REMARKABLE PROGRESS.
Tlie area under wheat in Western Australia in 1008-9 was 285,011 acres, and tlie yield 2.400,823 bushels. This year the area under
wheat is estimated at over 3,500,000 acres, with an anticipated yield of up to 43,000,000 bushels.
Various factors have combined to bring about this wonderful development, most important of all, being improved fanning methods
and the liberal use of Superphosphate. Sand plains which before the application of Superphosphate were considered useless have been con-
verted into some of the best wheat producing light lands in the Commonwealth, and high yields have bee» obtained. Orchards, gardens, and the
clover lands in the South-Western Districts have all thrived when Superphosphate or mixed fertilisers have been applied.'
It was iu 1909 that two big Melbourne companies demonstrated their confidence in the future of our State by building Superphosphate
Works. Cuming Smith and Co. Pty., Ltd., built their works at West Guildford, now known as Bassendean, and tho Mount Lyell Min-
ing and Railway Co., Ltd., built their works at Rocky Bay, near Fremantle. Both works stalled operating in 1910, and wore then each capable
of producing 20,000 tons of Superphosphate annually. Since then the increase in the agricultural activities has been so pronounced that
from time to time the works were extended, and two additional self-contained factories have been constructed outside the metropolitan area,
and the total outturn capacity of the company's four works is now between 250,000 and 300,000 tons annually, which is a truly remarkable
advance.
During 1927, the two companies were entirely re organised and were merged into a new company, known as diming Smith and Mount
Lyell Farmers Fertilisers, Ltd. A non-manufactnring company called Westralian Farmers Superphosphates, Ltd., was also formed with the sole
object of taking a one-third interest in the combined works on behalf of its farmer shareholders. A wonderful responce has been made to
the company's invitation to farmers to acquire an interest in Cuming Smith and Mount Lyell Fanners Fertilisers, Ltd., and there are now
several thousand farmer shareholders in the company, with a voice in the management and control of their own superphosphate works.
New works have been established at Geraldton and Bunbury, which is in keeping with the policy of the company to erect works at
ports wherever the requirements justify their construction. The erection of these works has been a great advantage to farmers situated a
long distance from Perth, both in the saving of freight costs, and by the elimination of irritating delays in deliveries.
Some nine years ago experiments were inaugurated by Cuming Smith and Mount Lyell Farmers Fertilisers, Ltd. in conjunction with
local agricultural societies in country centres for the purpose of demonstrating the value of top-dressing pastures with supei phosphate, particu-
larly for the improvement of clovers and natural grasses, and in all 78 experimental plots were in operation in widely distributed districts.
Each plot consisted of five acres, divided into three sections, superphosphate donated by Cuming Smith and Mount Lyell Farmers Fertilisers,
Ltd. being applied in the early autumn under the supervision of the local agricultural society, at the rate of 2cwt. to the acre on one section,
and lewt. to the acre on another. On the remaining section no manure was applied. The results of these tests were judged by officers
of the Department of Agriculture each year, and gave overwhelming evidence of the benefits to be derived by top-dressing. Tlie average result
for all 78 plots over the full period showed that by the application of 2cwt. superphosphate per acre, the increased yield ol;fained was 325 per
cent., as compared with 100 per cent, with no manure, and 200 per cent, with au application of lewt. of superphosphate pei acre. The top-dress-
ing of pastures is now universal, and the wonderful clover fields of the South-West are very largely the result of experiments inaugurated by
this company.
In the South-West and Great Southern when pasture is spoken of it is thought of largely only as sub-clover, and good as this has proved
itself to be the dairymen and graziers now realise the desirability of diversity in the pastures to provide the necessary balance which is essential for
the proper animal nutrition and maximum production.
What might be termed a further refinement of pasture production has recently been inaugurated by this firm and has taken the form of
controlled rotational grazing trials (both with cows and sheep), and 71 small "Nursery Trials" in which are planted such perennial grasses as
Phalaris tuberosa, Perennial Rye, Cocksfoot and Kikuyu Grass, together with perennial clovers; the object being to establish all the year growths
as against annuals only. These blade grasses require the inclusion of Nitrogen in conjunction with superphosphate to provide for maximum returns
and this is supplied in the form of sulphate of ammonia. Already it is evident that a perennial pasture can be established under proper cultural
conditions and in suitable rainfall areas, and this will be a big factor towards obtaining greater returns and added prosperity in our State.
To meet the requirements of pastoralists and glaziers the Company is now manufacturing Di-Caleic Phosphate Licks for all classes of stock,
and this material is proving of the greatest benefit in remedying tlie phosphate deficiency that exists particularly during the period when only dry
feed is available.
These brief comments are sufficient to show the remarkable way in which Cuming Smith and Mount Lyell Farmers' Fertilisers Ltd. has
advanced side by side with the development of agriculture in this State.
VIEW OF CUMING SMITH AND MT. LYELL FARMERS' FERTILISERS WORKS, BASSENDEAN. THE COMPANY'S WORKS, NORTH FREMANTLE. PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, BUNBURY. Help
THE COMPANY'S WORKS, NORTH FREMANTLE.
VIEW OF CUMING SMITH AND MT. LYELL FARMERS' FERTILISERS WORKS, BASSENDEAN. THE COMPANY'S WORKS, NORTH FREMANTLE. PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, BUNBURY. Help
PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, BUNBURY.
PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, GERALDTON. Help
PORTION OF THE COMPANY'S WORKS, GERALDTON.
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