WINTER FARM COURSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 212, 23 June 1950, Page 4

WINTER FARM COURSE

INTEREST MAINTAINED INFORMATIVE LECTURES Interest in the winter farm course continues unabated, and the benefit of the spoken word and opportunity for questioning and discussion is being appreciated and made full use of by keen audiences.

The second address yesterday morning was given by Professor A. H. Flay, of Lincoln Agricultural College. Professor Flay, speaking on “The Provision of Supplementary Feed for the Ewe Flock,” illustrated the truth that it is not just what one has to say that matters, but the way it is put across. .With lucid argument, the free use of figures to keep his contentions “on .the ground,” and intriguing asides,, the speaker analysed the position on the average Ashburton farm to-day, emphasising that .the problem of winter feed was, as indeed was any farm-management problem, part of an over-all picture. The crux of the address was a plea for more lucerne, much more, indeed, than it is the practice .to grow nowadays. Hay, he declared, was the chief answer to the grass-grub difficulty, and lucerne hay the principal answer in turn to the hay problem. The number of sheep carried on the average farm, Pr-ofes-sor Hay declared, is “shockingly few,” and lucerne hay for winter feed the key to a great increase in carrying capacity. . In the afternoon short addresses were given by Mr C. A. B. Pilbrow on the subject “Heavy Stocking for Small Seeds Production,” by Mr M. S. Turton on “The Production of Baby Beef,” “Set Stocking” by Mr C. Hilgendorf, and “Pasture Improvement on Poor Country” by Mr S. H. Saxby, of the Department of Agriculture. Women’s Topics

While a field day was being conducted. on the property of Me’ssrs Moore Bros, at Seafield, sessions for women were conducted at the Foresters’ Hall. The gathering began with an attendance of some 60 women, and the numbers grew as the morning passed.

The speaker at the first session was to have been Mr G. Malcolm, horticulturist to the Housing Department, but his sudden illness made it necessary to find at short notice a substitute, and Mr A. F. Morgan, of the Ashburton Domain, took the stated lecturer’s place and gave an interesting address on “Hardy Flower Borders.” Mr Morgan dealt with the almost infinite range of subjects for the border, giving information and advice on culture and display. At question time queries ranged over a wide field, ranging from methods of weed eradication, summer chrysanthemums, azaleas and roses, hyacinths and sprays, and a most helpful hour for the gardening enthusiast was ,the result. On the motion of Miss M. M. Lill thanks were warmly accorded the lecturer. Mr Goldsmith, poultry instructor for Canterbury-Westland under the Department of Agriculture, followed with a talk on “Farnn Poultry.” Mr Goldsmith began a most informative talk with the examination of three hens, one good one and two poor specimens, handling them and taking them round his audience as he explained their points. Advice as to the acquirement of sound stock and the feeding and nurture of chickens followed.

Question time once more brought a spate of inquiry, and advice was sought arid given on topics ranging over the whole range of poultry-keep-ing, and as far apart as tonics and stimulants, the shifting of chicken houses, the spraying of the same and the advantages of various breeds and crossings thereof.