FARM METHODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1925, Page 12

FARM METHODS.

VISITOR'S CRITICISM. AN OFFN lAI. IJEJOINDF.I:. j Officials of the Department of Afrri|ruliiire are l,y no means sati-lied with ■til.: relevancy V.r fiiirnc-s ..: the ciiti.isir jof New Zealand's farming method* i indulged in by Mr. Breakwell. principal !of the Van.'o IN..S.U'., Agricultural ; High School, on his return to Sydney. ; Mr. Break well's eritiei-m that cropping was not satisfactorily carried out, and 1 that there whs a lack of co-operation i between the farmer and the Department. especially in the matter of experimental plots, led to ;l rejoinder from a bcjlio.' ' officer of the Department. ; "Mr. Breakwell," lie said, "l-i reported to have Keen in the farming di-trifl--of the North Hand. The North Island i.i not no ted for .topping, the tannine praetined being almost entirely of the ■grass-farming type. The South l-bm<! •is the part of" New Zen.laa.lld '.'.here err,,,:,in" is inueh to the fore. Had he vi-ited that island he would have foun 1 much lit interest find also seci thai agriculture i- earrii'd mil on the mo.-.. modern line.. At '.μ-i he wnuM i-iirn that it win carriH out on !;ne< :)ni\ r.--u!t,-d in crop \;A<\ meraget Mr in Pi(v ,, ,„" ti,o-e obtained i.i New South Wa!i». "So far a- I'o-operfltion between 'lie [nrrtiimry farmer and '.]:•• Department !of Agriculture. in the iiMller nf I'V--1 perimental plot", is coi rued, inili'is has been aeoinplished, but. except h. cereal »nd root crop growing, the l'\i perimental plot system is not altogether I owing to the tenure of the ground not always liejng seeuro enough, due. of course, mainly to famia changing !iand>. The co-operative e\ perimental plot has in recent, year- been replaced hj rli Small experimental or Memonstration areas in seleeU'd district.-, the re-u!t~ obtained beiiiL' applicable In ! i-on*iderable areas of the -urrounding Country; and (ii by the appointment ol ! travelling instructors in agriculture. j Further than this, the co-operative ex- ' perimental plot has ill some, districts. been replai-ed by farmers' Held competitions, particularly in regard to the growing of toddcr crops, ami with re 1 gard to that typ- of co-operuti\e work , that may lie d'esi-rilwd as crop demonIHration 'work. In the Sooth Island, that i is. in the cropping belt, cooperative ! experimentation is .-till largely under I taken, and on the most modern and I improved lines. The main point of in 'terest in North Island agriculture is I the skilful manipulation nn.| utilisation 'of grass land. New Zealand gra-s land J farming is on n plane far nhovc that of other countries, and in topdreshing pasture, maintenance, and pasture re newal. New Zealand offers a type of farming that could well be copied in , many other putts of the world.'' Tliis view was also expressed rpiite recently by the agricultural delegation from U'icconsin University, that visited the Dominion.