THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17607, 9 November 1922, Page 7

THE COUNTRY.

A. AND P. CONFERENCE.

THE COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTIONS,

The proposals of the special committee set up in connexion with the Nort land A. and P. Association's conference and accepted at a meeting of delegates at Palmerston North, were aa follow#: (1) "The conference of societies sha.l be : for the purpose of encouraging unanimity in the working of A. and P. shows. (2) The conference of eist of delegates from affiliated soaeties in terms of clause 3. (3) Tiie dekgatea so appointed shall meet and _ e^ president, two vio3-pres:dente, treasurer and secretary, and exe; committee. (4) The election of delegates from each association take place annually by each least two months before the ,» the Winter Show at Palmereton North (third week in June), and due notioe shall be sent to the secretary not later than the. first day of May each y i each society to liave two votes secretaries may be appointed as gates or may accompany dfeegates and take part in proceedings wuthout having a vote. (5) Each society s contribute an annual subscription owards the conference funds. w ine conference shall meet at least onoe a year, or oftener if necessary, _ or consijered advisable by the executive (onethird of affiliated societies to form a quorum). (7) Any extraordinary vacancies on the executive shall be nnea by the executive. (8) That the secretary of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association act as secretary pro tern. . , , ~ , The special committee which drafted the constitution submitted the following items, consideration of which was left over until the conference had beoome properly established: —Railway freights and facilities: That when the association is formed it be a recommendation to the executive to mterview the Minister and General Manager of Railways thereon. Disqualifications: That all disqualifications of exhibitors of stock be first referred to the executive for endorsement or otherwise before being referred to the associated societies if they desire general support j for their action. Complimentary luncheon tickets: That the question of issuing complimentary luncheon tickets to exhibitors be discussed on the basis of the amount of entry fees- paid. Control of side-shows: That the question of side-shows be disoussed. Measurement of horses: That a uniform arrangement be adopted. Colours for prizes (uniformity): That standard colours, as recommended by the New Zealand 1 Council of Agriculture, be adopted. Uniformity in points, discussion of 6how dates and gate charge and entry fees. SEED TESTING. COMPULSORY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. Legal measures are now enforced in the United Kingdom to prevent the sale of bad seeds and some prosecutions ihave recently taken plaoe of those selling inferior varieties. To the lay mind it seems an almost impossible proposition to know good seed from bad, except by sowing it and seeing what happens. The resources of science are now, however, sufficiently, good to secure that a certain percentage of goodness may be guaranteed for in given lots of seeds. The process employed in testing so as to obtain a certain standard of - purity is interesting. The larger such as peas, beans, or barley f are fea on to a big sieve, which retains those that are too large and lets the rest go through. These are then passed on to a sieve of smaller mesn, which discards those which are too small. Seeds of the correct size then pass into an opposing current of air, in - which each remains suspended for a fraction of a secondi The weight of thoßO seeds which will germinate overcomes the air, and they fall into a bin below. The lighter seeds are blown upwards to another bin.. Tares are sorted from oats by means of a broad canvas band inclined at an angle and moving upwards over rollers. The seeds are dropped on to this band from a Height of about two feet. The tare seeds bounce, and consequently fall downwards; the oat seeds lie flat, and are carried upwards. Subsequently the selected seeds are passed over a slowly moving belt, and mis-shapen or injured ones are picked out by hand. Then follows the , actual testjng. About 200 seeds of each variety are "sown" on a circular piece of damp blotting paper with narrow rings of paper round the edge to prevent the seeds from-falling off, and are then placed in an incubator kept running at the proper temperature. In due time —two or three days for mustard and two-'or three weeks for some of the grasses—the seeds germinate. The number germinating are counted up, the proportion ascertained, and any lot which falls below the standard is rejected. Jottings for Farmers. Replying to a deputation from the Provincial Agricultural Committee, Mr Massey expressed his sympathy with their request for the use of the Ruakura State Farm to instruct boys in agriculture after they left school. _ Ha said that he would consult the Minister of Agriculture and he hoped to acoedei to the request. But for the war it waa his intention to establish a school of agrioulturo in the North Island years ago.

Under date of - September 29th, our) London correspondent writes:—Mr George Gould (Christchurch) waa anxious to make some stud 6tock purchases during his stay in the Old Country, but be has been unable to buy owing to the outbreak of fooWiidmouth disease. True, there is very little of this at present, but what there is affects the shipment of any purchases that may be maae. The law is bo strict that an outbreak in any one county prohibits the shipment from any other county, no matter how distant.

The growth of pasture in the Auckland district has been remarkable during the last few weeks. A prominent

Waikato farmer 6tated on Friday that he had considered last season one of the best he could remember as far as growth was concerned. This season promised to. be even better from the farmers' point of view. A particularly good winter with comj>aratively little ram had been experienced, ana stock u j 110 es ® e pt>onally well. ■ Spring had commenced early and seasonal rains had fallen just at the right time to -Stimulate growth. Tn® pastures had done* o well that record hay crops should be harvested early in tuo season.

S. laT ® received from the compiler,' Mr E. Butt. Ben Morven, Blenheim, a copy of a booklet entitled ''How To Grow Lucerne." Mr Butt is an ardent advocate of the "King, of Fodders," being one .of the principal growers in the Marlborough province, and his booklet provides a fund of information as to how the cultivation of the plant should be undertaken. Incidentally, Mr Butt, explodes the fallacy that lucerne is a sort of hot-house plant that can be grown only on specially favourable soils, and in this respect" his opinion, as well as that of other authorities, is borne out by experience m Central Otago, where it was reported the other day that the plant was found growing 2500 ft above sea level. In America, it has been grown successfully at more than treble that elevation. "Lucerne may be successfully raised on almost any type of soil," says Mr Butt, "provided that it is weir drained, sweet, free from weeds and well supplied with organic matter and mineral plant food. Good drainage must be provided, the' ground must be free from weed seeds, and if the soil is sour it must be limed before lucerne can do well." To bring before farmers the comparative ease with which lucerne can be grown, Mr Butt is providing a supply of his booklets at the Show to-morrow and Friday, for those who desire to keep abreast of developments in lucerne growing, ans he will also be in attendance personally to give information to prospective growers. CULVERDEN. The weather lately hns been veisy seasonable. The last week-end rainfall almost reached one inch, and was warm and soaking. The crops are looking well. Shearing hns commenced. The parishioners of St. Ma.ry's Church held a very pleasant social and 1 dance in aid of the fund for the upkeep of the ' church. Mrs H. B. Davison was responsible for the music and was ably assisted by Mr and Mrs Line. Miss D. Parker, and Miss Went. The supper arrangements were excellent. Mrs Bethell superintended the decorations and supper, assisted bv Mrs Jas. Kennedy and Mrs McLachlan. A very enjoyable evening was spent, and at the interval for supper the churchwarden, Mr M. Bethell,"whilst thanking all the helpers, was able to announce the very substantial balance of £2O. RANGIORA. The bazaar in connexion with the Roman, Catholic Church, which, is to be opened at the end of this mofith, should prove to be one of the most successful functions of its kind conducted in Rangiora. The various stallholders have organised strong committees which have been working hard for some .months past, both in Rangiora and outlying districts, and have now a fine collection of goods of every description to dispose of. Great interest is being shown in the Queen competition, and the contest will no doubt prove a keen one. The proceeds of the bazaar are in aid of . the Parish Building fund. HALSWELLk A very enjoyable concert was given at Halsrwell in connexion with the 09th anniversary of St. Mary's Church by a party' organised _by Mrs Hart. Unfortunately, the night turned out very wet, -and' interfered somewhat with the attendance. A splendid programme of vocah and instrumental items, recitations, and fancy dancing waa presented. Those who assisted were:' Piano and banjo selection, Miss Johns and Mr Hall; duets, Mr and Mrs Ralph; monologues, Mrs Temple; recitations, Master Otten; songs, Miss N. Nottingham, Miss E. Moody, and Phyllis Hart. Messrs Temple and Durocn; comedy sketch, Mr and Mrs Temple; fancy dancing, Miss K. Mathews; sword dance, Vera Pocock; Highland fling, Alma Pocock - and Marion Johnstone; Seann Truibhais. Muriel "Waugh: find ai Scotch reel by all the Scottish dnncers. Mr Edgar Lane supplied the pipe music for the dancing, arid Miss Johns played the accompaniments. At the conclusion the Rev. C. C. O'dham thanked the performers. The ladies of the parish provided refreshments, and Me.=srs Templeton, Gardiner, and Sparks kindly irc.tpred: the party out. HAKAIA. The following pupils of the Sisters of Mercy were examined by Mr G. F. Vincent, F.T.C.L., in connexion with the Trinity College of Music, London, at the Convent, Rakaia, andl were successful: Senior' Division, Honours, piano: Alice Farquhar (Methven). Intermediate Division, Honours: Olive Richards (Rakaia), Eileen McTaggart (Methven); pass, Nora Tully (Rakaia), Rona Adams (Methven), Myrtle All red (Mefhven). Junior Division, violin: Methuen Duncan (Rakaia); piano, Margaret Henderson (Rakaia), Olive Stewart (Rakaia). Preparatory Division: Mollie Dart (Methven), Ella Flynn (Rakaia), Margaret Tully (Rakaia). First steps: Doris Pluck (Rakaia), Mary Crooks (Methven). ASHBTJETON. About 100 members attended the Hampstead Band of Hope social, each one wearing a badge representing a song or rhyme. Games and competitions were indulged' in, Miss M. Harrill and Larrie Robinson being the successful competitors. Prizes for the highest number- of marks during the session for items, punctuality, and attendance were awarded as -follows: —Gir.s: Nellie Keeley and Florrie Marsden (equal) 1, Flo B'ord 2. Boys: Gorden Broker, and H. Osborne (equal) 1, Arthur Hall 2 A special prize was given to Annie Keen, who had walkeu a total distance of 24' miles to attend the meetings, and had contributed a temperance item on each occasion. Miss Eva E. Buchanan, who is. at present teaching at the Normal Schoof Kindergarten, has been appointed assistant teacher at the Allenton school, "fillin- the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Hume. At a meeting of the executive of the Advance Ashburton Association, progress reports in connexion with the canvass of the town for donations were received, showing a satisfactory response by the business people. A statement of receipts and expenditure since the inception of the association ' showed , the total receipts to have been £l2O 19s 9d, and the expenditure £79 4s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £4l 15s.