FARMS OF FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 100, 21 January 1933, Page 18

FARMS OF FUTURE

Pumice Lands and Their

Development

progress at ngakuru

(Contributed.)

The claim that the idle pumice lands in the centre of the North Island are potential dairy farms appears no idle boast, after an inspection of the largescale development work which is being carried out by the Department of Agriculture on more than 30,000 acres of this class of country at Ngakuru and Galatea. These areas are in the Rotorua district, more than 40 miles apart. Agakuru’s past record of productivity i nil; it is in the process of being transformed into a site for ™ dairy farms. On the old-established station of Galatea sheep are to give way to cows. The Government sees it as the home of 200 future dairymen Plans for this transformation have all been set in motion during the tenure of office of the present Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom. How far and how fast they progress depends on Government policy and on finance, but, with the limited resources available, positive results are now being obtained. Ngakuru at present affords an example of the work in all stages of development. The task here is to transform some 8000 acres of undulating pumice country, about 19 miles distant from Rotorua, into nearly 50 <la farms, varying in size from 120 to 200 acres, according to the nature of the country. Judging by the cost of those areas already brought into production, these farms could be handed to the settlers at an average price of about £2O an acre, without any loss accruing to the Government, even though the aggregate present expenditure, in the hope of future recompense, may seem high. , , . Just three years have elapsed since the developers set to work on the uninviting landsscape of fern and scrub at Ngakuru, yet some dairy farmers are already tending their herds there. On Block 1 the initial scene of operations in February, 1930, good, sweet pasture brushes the boot-tops over an expanse of 1100 acres, where formerly scrub and fern reached the thighs. One has only to glance across to the virgin land to appreciate the contrast.

Milkers on Share Basis.

Nine sections, varying in area from 150 to 250 acres, have been marked out. On four of these are farmers milking on a share basis. Each has been handed a modern dairy farm, complete with buildings, stock, and machinery, while manure is provided. With these assets he has two years in which to prove himself an industrious and successful dairy farmer. If he succeeds in this, then his section is under offer to him on terms to be arranged. The main thing in the department s eyes is that he should be a suitable man for the job, whether he has capital or not. It is one of the virtues of the scheme that it explodes the theory that a man without means cannot take up dairying. A fifth section on this block, of 230 acres, is the home of an interesting experiment. It is the demonstration farm, designed to discover what this class of country is capable of, and what treatment is most suitable for it. Like the four already tenanted, this fifth farm is laid out in orderly fashion, with cottage, milking shed, and machinery. Of the 176 acres of grass; half is temporary and half permanent pasture. The 88 acres of permanent grass are subdivided into 15 paddocks, each served by a water trough, supplied—as are the rest of the developed sections —from a pump in the river. Last year 56 cows, mostly JerseyShorthorn cross, were milked on this area. For the eight months ending March 31 last they produced 12,000 pounds of butterfat. For the remainder of last season 56 cows -were being milked, the herd having been gradually built up, after August last, to 84, its present strength. By the end of March they show every promise of producing 20,000 pounds of butterfat for the year. Besides butterfat, however, this farm is producing much valuable local knowledge. Pumice country of this kind — admittedly poor in its natural state—demands special treatment, though such treatment is not necessarily more costly than on ordinary soil, once the pastures have been established. The lessons the demonstration farm has to teach 'will be applied over the whole block.

Improving the Herds.

The practice of the department is, as far as possible, to build up its herds from within. To this end 800 yearling heifers are being carried on the second Ngakuru block and are being mated in order to build up future herds. Besides the dairy cows, the demonstration farm itself carries 30 yearlings, 30 calves, and 6 purebred Berkshire pigs. Work on the 5000-acre area, known for departmental purposes as Block 2, has not reached such an advanced stage. Two sharemilkers, on the same terms as those at Ngakuru I, are already settled there. The present intention is to place six more next season. Altogether 4000 acres have been grassed and subdivided into 33 sections, wffiile three more may be added. Apart from those occupied, the sections are now being managed as a large farm. Some 40 menare engaged in seasonal operations. Between 1000 and 1200 acres of hayensilage from the new pastures are being cut and stacked for the winter. The size of the stacks testifies to the yield of hay. About 400 acres of turnips are being sown, for winter in the Rotorua district is cold, but not tempestuous. The breaking-in of the land proceeds on a comprehensive scale, and the tractor has proved its worth. On this block, too, dairy farms can be established, all ready for the settler to walk on to, at an average cost of about £2O per acre.