ARE EXPERIMENT FARMS USEFUL?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 155, 25 March 1908, Page 2

ARE EXPERIMENT FARMS USEFUL?

'- V . . MR. W. PERRY'S OPINIONS: Mr.'W. Perry, of Penrose, Masterton, who is well known as, ono of the most pfactical farmers in tilo "Dominion, was asked .his.'., opinion of experiment farms by our \Vai--," rarapa. ecrrtspondeait. Mr. Perry' said that there was no doubt they could be made to.bo of much; benefit'to.tjio farmer, provided 4'hey were managed properly,' and tho results of tho experiments were placed as .early, as possibio at the disposal of the producers. There was a mine of information which might bo opened np-to farmers by a scientific study ■of tho soil and the manner in which it should be trcat-cd, and in proof of this statement Mr.' Perry instanced tho'experiments which wero'last"year carried out- by the'Mast-erton A. and P. . Association, whefein it was demonstrated that it paid farmers to manuro , to the extent of 3cwt. per aero for turnip crops, -instead of - 2cwt., "as . waS formerly ' dtme in this district.' Mr. Perry was riot.so • enthusiastic: a&< to the possibilities, of .experimenting with dairy herds,_ although he considers that even in that direction a Government experiment farm would be /of great benefit to tho Wairarapa, notwithstanding the fact that the area taken for tho purpose would be practically shut ,up and would pay no rates. ' .