MASSEY COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 169, 13 April 1932, Page 13

MASSEY COLLEGE

Past Year’s Activities WORK BY DEPARTMENTS The annual report of the Massey Agricultural College, as presented to the Minister of Agriculture, discussed fully the activities ou the farm during 1931. The dairy farm returns, according to the report by Professor W. Riddet, Dean of Dairying, were influenced by most unusual weather conditions. After a specially favourable spring and early summer, the year commenced with ideal grazing conditions, which continued till March. No need was found for supplementary feed till late in April, when silage was first fed. Thus the dairy season of .1929-30 was favoured with splendid conditions for the provision of feed from start to finish. The conditions during the season 1931-32 to date have been directly the reverse, says Professor Kiddet. From May onwards there ensued a succession of unfavourable seasonal conditions—firstly, an early winter: secondly, an unusually wet and cold winter: thirdly, a late wet and cold spring: and, finally, a late spring and summer, characterised by Infrequent rains and much drying wind. The consequences were a heavy demand upon reserves of winter and spring feed, Ihe injury it, winter of pastures on the Heavier soils by excessive pugging, and subsequent pomgrowth of pasture in the late spring ami early summer due partly to dry conditions, and partly to the effects of a hard winter. Fortunately, at the outset of the winter there was in hand flu excellent supply of hay aud ensilage, and in spite of the adverse conditions the dairy stock wintered especially wen. The report of the veterinary science department shows that, on the whole, the health of the stock on the dairy farm and in the 'piggery was reasonably good. Actiyifles in the field husbandry and botahy, inorganic and soil chemistry, zoology, agricultural economies, bacteriology and mycology and poultry departments arc also dealt with.