RURAL RIDES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 5 February 1938, Page 11

RURAL RIDES

A TASMANIAN VISITOR FARMING METHODS COMPARED (By H.A.M.) A visitor to Christchurch during the week was Mr R. Oldrey, of Eokeby, Cressy (Tasmania), a prominent sheep farmer in the “tight little island.” He is a member of the Tasmanian Meat Board, and has taken a leading part in co-operation with the Agricultural Department of the state in improving the farming methods there. These have undergone a marked transformation within the last 10 years, and as an old New Zealander Mr Oldrey thinks there are one or two respects in which the Dominion could advantageously adopt the Tasmanian methods. During his stay in Canterbury he was the guest of Professor Hudson, at Lincoln College, who, with another new member of the staff of that institution. Mr R. H. Bevin, took the principal part in establishing the extension work of the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture. The writer spent a day with Mr Oldrey in inspecting pastures and. stud flocks in the Malvern and adjoining counties, and his observations are well worth recording. ' About 35 years ago Mr Oldrey, then a young man just out from England, look his first job on arrival in Canterbury at the Hawkswood station, Parnassus, as a sheep hand, when Mr Caverhill was manager. Later he was employed at Hanmer, but after some years he found his tvay to Tasmania, where he made his permanent home. Subterranean Clover Mr Oldrey is a keen subterranean clover advocate, a plant which, he says, is transforming the pastoral face of his state. More than a decade ago Tasmania was practically insolvent. The only source of revenue which could be depended upon was “Tatt’s,” which never suffered a drought. The Federal Government was obliged to render direct financial assistance, but the assistance was given under conditions that necessitated a proper development programme of the country’s agricultural and pastoral resources. In the latter development “sub” clover has taken the major part. Mr Oldrey’s own property consists of approximately 2000 acres, of which more than half is bush, and is of little productive value until brought in by clearing and the sow-

ing of clover. On the 800 acres actively handled the soil was so unresponsive that the ordinary grasses could scarcely be made to grow, but cultivation enabled a sheep to the acre to be carried, or 800 on the 800 acres. This was 10 years ago. Last season from the 800 acres, 700 of which are in “sub,” Mr Oldrey shore 2500 ewes and grown dry sheep, and a fair proportion of the •, 800 acres was not fully developed. He has established a”Corrledale stud flock, has fattened lambs off their mothers for the export market, securing up to 29s a head last season for lambs, and has raised all the hay feed and ensilage needed for the colder months. The rainfall averages 21in, slightly less than that of Canterbury.

The best soils of the state are devoted to agricultural crops, such as potatoes, oats, etc., but there is a great area of land of poor quality which grows subterranean clover to perfection. But for subterranean, indeed, .much of this land would be in comparative inaction. The spread of the plant is rapidly increasing the production of lamb and mutton. It would be much better for agricultural farmers if they cut down their acreage of potatoes, which depends on an erratic mainland market, with periodical surpluses and shortages, according to the season and the incidence of disease, and went in for clover and lamb raising. Mr Oldrey saw a number of stands during the week in Canterbury, and considered that there was immense scope for the plant bn the high lands, as the clover was obviously suited to the soil and climate. The top-dressing of the clover with super was essential, observed Mr Oldrey. With a 21-inch rainfall in his district, the quantity applied was about 1001 b to the acre, but it was considered that a heavier rainfall benefited more from a heavier dressing—about 101 b an acre for every ir.«h of rainfall over 20 inches. With a 24-incb rainfall, the practice of 1401 b (a sack) to the acre ■in Canterbury therefore seemed to be on all fours with the quantity in Tasmania. This question of rainfall in relation, to the dressing was important. _ ■ ■

Mr Oldrey said he found that topdressing in a dry autumn was most suitable. This was against the usual idea, but in the dry autumn the fertiliser got straight to the roots of the plant, and the manure was a root feeder. At other times the grass would be ranker and the fertiliser was delayed by the grass from reaching its objective. There was little ram in Tasmania in January and February, and dressing then gave the growth a kick-off at the most suitable time. Lamb and Sheep Troubles Mr Oldrey stressed the necessity of only certified seed being used, and the certification custom was general in Tasmania. The inferior uncertified seed concealed a menace —the lucerne flea—which was fatal to stands of that valuable plant once the insects got into it. Uncertified seed of the lesser known varieties from one or two of the mainland slates should be guarded against. Mount Barker was the popular variety in Tasmania. The production of seed was erratic. Last season he harvested 11 tons; this season when he left home the prospects of any seed at all on account of the dry weather, looked very remote. The practices in Canterbury appeared to be practically the same as those in his own state, “and you have a big belt of light country suitable for sub.” he added,

Mr Oldrcy said that sheep men struck the same troubles in Tasmania as they wore doing here, but be thought the system of attacking the trouble was better in his slate. The veterinary division of the department immediately got in touch with men who were losing their sheep, _ and studied conditions on the farm. Ihcio was no waiting until the animals died and the innards were sent on to tne laboratory for investigation. The veterinarian investigated the disease on the farm even if it meant spending a few days on the property, and recommended the treatment, whether it was for worms, pulpy kidney, or black disease. The activity of the branch had saved many sheep, and ;ho service was highly esteemed by farmers. Fanners drenched their ewes and lambs early. Lambs were generally inoculated with the Mac Master vaccine about a month after birth, and again in another three weeks, and the amount of pulpy kidney which developed was negligible in comparison with what ho had heard of m Canterbury. Feeding practices may have something to do with Inis, as die value of dry feeding when stock was young was generally recognised. In his own flock of 1800 ewes he had developed the complex of not being concerned about pulpy kidney. He followed the departmental advice and his Josses were scarcely a circumstance. Mr Oldrey frankly considered that in this matter of preventing disease the close liaison between Tasmanian farmers and the department

would be of advantage in the Dominion. The cost of vaccine a lamb for the two inoculations was 2d a head. Government Extension Service The departmental activities in respect of better farming had assisted farmers who had not had the opportunities in earlier years enjoyed by most of the South Island farmers. The early settlers came here with a tradition of farming behind them, and it was handed on to their sons. In Tasmania a lot of settlement in more recent years had been by men in industrial and other walks of life. They were therefore anxious for technical advice, and the ' extension service realised this. If a property obviously wanted manure the instructor would take out a bag of state owned fertiliser and demonstrate the fact. All kinds of useful advice in this respect was offered, and readily accepted. “Unfortunately for our extension service,” added Mr Oldrey, “the two men who have been responsible for its success have left us now to come over to Lincoln College—Professor Hudson and Mr Bevin.” Stud Corriedalcs Mr Oldrey inspected some of the slud Corriedales on Mr Jas. Reid’s property at Riverslcigh, Darfleld. He expressed admiration of the carcase development, in which he considered the Now Zealand sheep he bad seen beat the Australian. On the wool side, however, he ■ thought that the Tasmanian Corriedale rather shaded the New Zealand. They clipped a slightly heavier fieece and he thought a bolder type of wool. The Corriedales he had seen a- fine lot. Tasmania was changing from the merino to the Corriedale to a large extent on account of the mutton and lamb breeding qualities of the Corriedale, and for this purpose a sheep with a longer leg was favoured to get over what was once merino country.

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