MANAGEMENT OF FARMS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20729, 14 December 1932, Page 6

MANAGEMENT OF FARMS.

each successive season has been drier than the preceding one—in the first season fifteen cuttings were made, in the second eight, and in the third five."

LINCOLN COLLEGE WORK. EXTENSION OF SERVICES. The work of the Farm Advisory Service carried on by the Canterbury Agricultural College was discussed in the report for the six months ending September 30th last, which was presented at yesterday's meeting of the College Board. "Since March 31st last this work lias been changed in name from 'Pasture Investigations and Farm Supervision' to 'Farm Advisory Service,' " said the report. "Pasture investigations are 1 still being carried out, but the major portion of the work is Farm Advisory and Supervision of Farms. That the work has value and is being appreciated is shown by the number of requests for advice from the service. At the time of writing the last report the director had just arranged for his assistant, Mr H. J. Gcddes, to devote part of his time to the service. Even this, although greatly appreciated, was not sufficient to cope with the increasing amount of work. Last June, therefore, Mr M. H. Eogers was engaged under tho No. 4A Unemployment Scheme. Already it is almost impossible to handle tho increasing amount of work. "Since last March tho farms under complete control have increased from four to eight, tKose co-operating with the service have increased from 20 to 80. Detailed reports on present management, financial position, and suggested improvements have been prepared for over 25 farms. This section of tho work is being utilised by those holding mortgages on farm lands. It is hoped- that many of these properties will be brought up to a productive value equal to the mortgage. Sheep farms aro tho most difficult ones to handle. Tho scope for improvement is large, but the deficiencies arc so great that few of them aro now worth their former valuations. Complete Control Farms. "Tho supervision and management of these farms has been continued. On account of tho confidential nature of the work, it was decided to prepare a confidential file containing the details of these properties. "On Farm No. 5, irrigation experiments are being carried out in detail. '' On Farm No. 9, the Waimakariri River Trust intends to carry out irrigation experiments. "At present arrangements aro being made for taking ovor the control of several more new farms. Co-operating Farms. "Tho work under this heading has developed considerably since the last report, and to-day 80-odd farmers aro receiving advice on farm management from the service. "Manurial trials with sonic of these co-operating farmers are being continued. Potash was applied last April, and nitrogenous manures in JulyAugust. Trials on most unsuitable "swards havo been discontinued, so that

to-day the total number of trials is I about one-third of that of two years ago. Irrigation. "Advice has been given to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Irrigation Committee, and later to the Combined Irrigation Committee formed by the union of the former with that of the Canterbury Progress League. "On the Seafield farm, in co-opera-tion with Mr It. L. James, lecturer in engineering to the College, irrigation experiments are being carried out. "The Waimakariri River Trust also has decided to conduct detailed experiments, and in co-operation with tho Agricultural Department and the Trust's engineer these experiments arc to bo carried out on their property at McLean's Island. Most of the necessary organisation is being attended to by this serviee." The report also deals with the progress that has been made in the potash trials which the College has been conducting in co-operation with the Pacific Potash Company. The experiments are still in progress, but already some satisfactory results have been obtained. Lambs are looking well taking them all over and there will be big drafts ready for the works before Christmas says a Southland paper. It is being generally taken for granted that the Makarewa works will open immedi.itelv after the Invercargill Show this week though no official announcement of this has been made at moment of writing Some assurance that they will do so is necessary, as failing the early openinothere will sure to be a block in January. A yield of 63 bushels of oats to the acre is reported as something out of the ordinary in a Many high yields are reported in most parts of the State, so it is not improbable that export to New Zealand will again be made this season.