WAIMATE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11102, 22 October 1901, Page 3

WAIMATE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

I A general meeting of the Waimate Farmers' Association was held on Saturday, Mr J. F. Douglas presiding.- ? ' ■ Messrs "W. F. "Ward and J. Corcoran gave a resume of what was done at the recent provincial conference, and were .given a hearty vote of thanks for their report. * It was resolved to write fora copy of all Bills that came before the House of Representatives. It was started that two members of the Committee of the Waimate Association, had also been elected members of the Morven branch of the Farmers* Union, arid the secretary -was instructed, to write asking tiemwhicß branch they intended to resign fj-om. The Chairman brought up the question of manures, which be said was one of -the most important of present-day questions. Farmers, as a rule, purchased the cheapest manure they could get. and did not know, or care, whether or not the particular kind they got was suited to their land or not. 'i Thousands of pounds were spent annually on manure, wMch did more harm, than good. 'He urged that the Government should be approached to appoint analytical .chemist* in each'district, who would have" submitted to them -various kinds -of soil. After analysing these they would know exactly what manure was suited to the land. This suggestion was considered by the meeting, and it was resolved to act upon it.. - Mr Douglas next referred to the ques-. tion of an analysis of seeds. He urged that, no -seed should! be sold.without an analysis of its gerainating'ipower being given'along with it. • - _ _ Several othter members, spoke,, strongly -on this question, and it *was resolved that *h6 Go-nnuaent should'be urgted to insist on-an analysis toeing given whenever seed is sold. ',''7" * • Mr Douglas pointed-out the great ignorance which prevailed among-farmers, even among those who had been farming all their 'lives, on 1 the, steps to be taken to stay or cure the most common diseases' among stock. Hundreds cf .pounds: were' thus wasted- each' year, bj the lose of animals whose lives a little knowledge - would have saved. ' He'moved that the Depart-3 MnemVof Agriculture should be, {written to -asking than a veterinary surgeon.' be de-, tailed, to. deliver- a lecture in .Waimate "on' • 'the'commonest diseases of siock. / ' - - This was- carried .- v . j. .The, meeting then 'adjourned,, «.. - i '