DOMINION FARMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 30, 5 February 1925, Page 10

DOMINION FARMING.

•j DAIRYING AND SHEEP. IMPRESSIONS OF EXPERT. STOCK IN I-in.-'T (1. \,<- i UMHTION, .i After a month's tour of inspection through most of the Vortii Island, -Mr. B. Broakwell. f'...\.. |!.Sc, principal of the Yam-,, Agricultural High School, returned to Sydney from New Zealand last week. His impressions were briefly cabled. Mr. I'.reakwell mis formerly afrrnsti-ciogjsi: io ii„- New South Wale's Department of Agriculture, and in that capacity was familiar with most of the coastal and central portions of the Slate, lie is. therefore, well filled to make adequate comparisons between the agricullui-nl methods of the l«'o countries. .Interviewed on his return. Mr. Breakyeell mentioned that he was much impressed with ih.* luxuriant pastures, to be seen everywhere throughout the island. I bespat urn is generally excluded, even in localities where it can be successfully grown, li- place is taken hy cocksfoot, rye grass. Brown Top, and red clover. Tho cooler climate and adequate rainfall render such pastures superior to most of those in New South Wales. In districts with first-class soils, such as Tarnnaki and I'abnerston, an annual carrying capacity of two cows per acre is quite common, and forma the basis for the highly efficient dairying industry. Dairying and Stock. The dairy holdings, he found, are quite small, but the most is obtained from them by Hie subdivision of paddocks, and utilising any excess of growth by making grass hay. Grass and clover hay stacks are dotted all over the countryside. Such a form of fodder conservation could, he considers, with advantage be more widely adopted hy our own dairymen, especially on the south coast, where such grasses and clovers thrive. Hiant Fescue is not looked upon with favour in New Zealand, but Tall Fescue is common. Stock everywhere are in first-class condition, and Mr. Breakwell noted that the Fricsians appear to he gaining in popularity. In the more hillyparts the combination of sheep and dairy farming is producing good results, the Komney-.Merino cross being evidently adapted to such districts. While on the fiat country, especially at Kuakura experiment farm, foot-rot is very prevalent, the physical condition of this cross among the hills is excellent. He failed to see why there is not more scope for 6uch a combination of dairying with this or a similar cross of sheep in the hilly coastal and tableland districts in Xew South Wales, where the rainfall is sufficient for good pastures. ..Owing to the fact that carcase development in New Zealand takes precedence of wool covering, the quality of the latter appears to be deteriorating, judging from the recent public controversy. Wool classes in Bradford have drawn attention to the presence bi hair in the crossbred wool, and this 19 causing no little concern. ' "< Farm Training. • j The Ruakura State Farm, in the Waikato district, Mr. Breakwell considers, is very inferior in most respects to Hawkesbury Agricultural College, or to such State farms as Wagga or Bathurst. Jtreat credit is due, however, to the manager of that farm for his efforts in reclaiming the "ti-tree" country ■vjiich was previously considered useless by the ordinary farmer. The pastures h6 has laid down, chiefly with Lotus major, a leguminous plant, are simply •remarkable, and such nn achievement alone has justified the existence of the ■farm. It has been stated that 300 head of large stock and 2000 sheep were carried on the 900 acres of the farm (mostly pasture) last year, with no supplementary feeding apart from the crops grown on the total area mentioned.