STATE FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 213, 6 September 1916, Page 8

STATE FARMS.

4 X 5viEWe OP THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, , H " : - ** : ~_. fEOVIDDJCIEOE. SOUTH ISLAND. SUGGESTED SAEES OFFAKtf LANDS. (Special to the "Star.") - """' J , WELLINGTON, this day. The. Board of Agriculture, which was to advise the Government in to matters concerning the developI ment of agriculture, lias submitted a long 'i'eport upon the State experimental 'farms of the Dominion. All three institutions were visited, and it is apparent .that the Board always had. in mind the I: possibility of economically providing for -the requirements of the South Island, Vhich is ■admittedly short of these, valu-v-able aids to agriculture. In brief, it is proposed to remedy tho deficiency ihy ■selling surplus areas of North Island. .""experimental farms, and applying the the purchase of lands for farms' in Canterbury, Otago and the West Coast of the South -island, in accordance -with a ministerial promise to that effect. ■j—i What the report says on this subject, "is:—"lf the recommendations are carried out, there would probably be something like £00,000 realised from the sale o"f . the land. This money should be devoted :Jkp the purchase of two faxms of, say, 200 j acres each, one in , the agricultural disof Canterbury, and another in South "jfHago -or Southland, as the soil and SJimats of these two districts are quite g•* It is pointed out by the Board »that the canning out of commercial farming on any of its well-known and * widely adopted lines shonld not be the . inork of an experimental farm. Fanning IS divided into branches, and the speciaililists attain to the best practice in each, The work of the specialist in any the known branches or farming can v seldom, if ever, be equalled by an ex"•perimental farm. Nor should the State be expected to show a profit. "It .'would he as reasonable to expect a school giving free education to yellow hy a profit and loss account, a -profit balance, as to expect a profit --TJalance from an experimental fajm," j "declares the BoaTd. "We should expect ] only from them what we should expect 1 from our schools —namely, that they ' . should he economically and efficiently 'Tim. The profit lies in the increased which results from investigaThe Board seeks to disclaim any i'wish to criticise past mistakes, but it ; "candidly icmarks in the report: •■The ! ."■objective and policy of-these farms has L'nevea- been clearly laid down, and there , Jliave been so many [Ministers with ■ - various views as to what should be that constant elianefes have . Teft much ground for criticism."' :Z; CDTTIXG UP THE FAKNIS. 2"~ Tn detailing their suggested plans for I the existing experimental farms, the HRoard suggests that Kuakura, which has XS acres > should be retained in its entirety, and the farm placed under' the " Management of a trained professional Jnian. The stud sheep should he sold — l~ t !iS«iL a y 3oLas_ gone past when it is necest o re tain stnd sheep ph an experifarm—that the 'IHavarra and breeds be specialised tlierev

The horticultural station of 97 acres at Tauranga should be retained, as it lias not been proved whether the district is suitable for fruitgrowing. At -Moumaliaki, on the West Coast of the North Island, there are 555 acres. The Board thinks that the homestead and 200 acres should bo retained for experiments, especially in grassing, but the remainder should be sold. That portion of the Arataki experimental station of 70 acres in 'HawkeY Bay, which has been used for vinegrowing should be sold, states the report, but land should be retained for experiments in drought-resisting plants for grazing purposes. Weraroa. in the Manawatu, with its SOO acres of fine land, offers the most tempting opportunity of raising money. The land, says the report, is of excellent quality, too good for experimental purposes, and in the midst of a populous and thriving dairying district, ft was stated to visiting members of the Board that this farm could be sold at £00 to £0.3 per acre. The farm should lie retained, as it is quite possible that it will be required in the future for educational purposes, but the land is so. valuable, and the area so large that it would not bo necessary to retain the whole of it, especially as money is required for farms in "the South Island. The sale of 400 acres in the outlying portions of the farm is therefore recommended. In connection with the Government's scheme of placing settlers on areas planted in fruit trees, the Te Kauwhata farm, in the Waikato, has been reduced in size of recent years. The report. however, suggests that the Government has not been selling this land at a "payable price, and very careful consideration should be given to this before the land it disposed of. The Board recommends planting varieties of apple suitable for ,export. and pears, which are known to suit the district and the market. The whole farm might then be disposed of. and the funds devoted to fruit farms ir. suitable districts. j FRUIT FAEMS. On tbis question of fruit farms, the report suggests the establishment of tliree small fruit farms, one north of Auckland, "which is going to be a great fruitgrowing district." one in Kelson, and another in Central Otago. These would be in the "midst of fruitgrowing districts, and the associated fruitgrowers would advise as to the direction in, which experiments, are necessary. Fifty acres each would be ample for these farms. 'Truitgrowing for export is in its infancy in Xew Zealand, and v bids fair to become of first-class importance in the Dominion. We therefore emphasise the necessity of at once proceeding with these farms."