STRATFORD DEMONSTRATION FARM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 August 1924, Page 4

STRATFORD DEMONSTRATION FARM.

ANNUAL MEETING. At the seventh annual meeting of the Farm Committee there were present about 35 members. In the unavoidable absence of Mr J. W. Deem the meeting voted Mr J. B. Richards to the chair. Apologies were received from Mr Deem and Mr A. W. Budge. After the confirmation of the minutes of the last annual meeting the chairman moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet.

The report was as follows: Your committee has pleasure in submitting the seventh annual report and balancesheet. The increased prodjuction of butis indeed pleasing, and clearly demonstrates that good feeding and selection of cows bring good results. The favourable weather was a considerable factor towards increased production. and the unremitting care and attention of the farm manager (Mr Hartwig) and his staff were essential to the same end. Top-dressing of pasture has been more extensively employed during the past year with much benefit. All the crops excepting the swede crop were very good. Mangolds, carrots, and soft turnips left small room for complaint. Pasture paddocks which got slightly away to seed.were mown, and thus good autumn feeding was maintained. Progressive improvement of the farm has continued. Additional land has been stumped, cleared, and cultivated. More permanent pasture has been sown. Piggeries have been built, and the cowshed arrangements have been improved by the construction of a concreted race from the bails. The benefit of plantations and hedges is now apparent. Your committee feels that increased yield and farm improvement go hand in hand, and although .fairly good progress may lie claimed for the Stratford Demonstration Farm since its inception “much remains to conquer still.” Field days at the farm continue to grow in favour, and visitors generally have increased. Members are reminded that nominations for membership are always welcome ; the subscription is 5s per annum. l r oiir committee again desire to record their appreciation of the assistance of Mr A. J. Glasson, Department of Agriculture, and of the services of Mr Hartwig and the farm staff. The statement of accounts showed that live stock was sligthly less than last year, £lOsl as against £1137, while sales of pigs and heifers had realised £163, and the only purchases had been two sows. In the working account £IOOS and bonus £253 had been received for 15,5661 b butter-fat, while there had been expended on wages £572, interest £470, manures £127, food for stock £B3, seeds £74, rates £69. The Government subsidy was £3OO, and Government refunds on seeds and manures totalled £195, the net prefit being shown as £143. In the assets were the following: Freehold property £4886, land improvements £892, buildings and plant (less depreciation £110) £2105, Dairy Co. and Bacon Co.’ shares £285, live stock £lOsl, sundry debtors £122, cash in hand £IBO. The main liability was to the bank £7253, leaving a balance of £2206.

In proposing the adoption of report and balance-sheet, the 'chairman said the committee could be congratulated on a successful year’s working. The production had shown a satisfactory increase, and this he believed to be due to the good feeding of the cattle, which was better than last year owing to the! failure of the turnip crop in the previous season. He believed be was right in saying, however, that no farm ever had too much feed. In regard to the future, he advocated a forward policy. The farm had been first taken over in a. backward state, and it had been the committee’s job to bring it up to date, after being twenty years behind the times. It had been a good field for. thought and good management, but- a are at deal remained to- be done. They had got their font on the ladder, and would ""go on steadily upward. In regard to the feeding of the cattle, it wafc recognised that in the springtime naturaf feed was always short, and in this respectvaluable results came from the year’s operations to see and demonstrate how much concentrated food was nec-essary to be fed to the cattlequantities, over what period and the •sorts most profitable. In addition there were many other avenues of work open to the committee. Regarding members, he said that the subscription was small and they always would welcome new members. It was not altogether a question of revenue, but they wanted to keep the society good and strong. An important feature of the year’s operations had been the increase in the number of farmers at the periodic demonstrations, and it was gratifying to know that so much interest was taken in the farm work and in hearing what Dr. Deern had to say. Regarding the balance-sheet, he said that live stock showed a slightly less favourable result owing to stock being taken in at a reduced figure, ami the working account was not unite so m>od as last year. The profit and "loss showed a balance of £142 as against £154 last year. But. he added, so long as they were building un steadily a useful object was attained. They had not increased the amount- .standing for land in this statement of assets, although there had been fourteen acres stumped, cleared and ploughed, as they considered it prudent not to value the land higher than at present. 1

Mr. K. Tarrant, referring to concentrated foods, said he would like to see more lucerne grown and a silo buili, and so be able to demonstrate the cost of its erection. fn reply to a question, the chairman said that the item £B3, food for stock, was lor that which had been brought on to the farm—pollard, hay, etc. " Mr. Davis congratulated ' the'committee on the practical side of the work, which was very valuable. He commended the work of the secretary, who had done well and gave in his work a true guide to anv prospective* mjei of a, farm. He said the figures were well set out, and showed, reckoning ls,Wilhs of fat at U fid, that there was a good profit on the year’s working—a, very satisfactory result on a farm of 145 acres. He estimated that the cost of top-dressi „«• wotked out at about £2 8s nor cow" without taking into account the other stock. He considered the question of the right treatment of -stock a national aflair, and that information should bo madfl broadcast for the benefit of the industry The chairman said, in reply to questions that the stock were fed on grass ojdy for about three to four months. He stressed the point, that all farmers miYk d S S m: f a pure supply of milk and if this were not clone tbev he°!ff r ' ot the . p, ' ice aiKl would be beaten in competition. Many were not feeding so well as tlicv should At he farm the milk had been delivered ni first-class condition, and the yield SL'T ‘t **'">» " f f-“* for tho season. They were out to show nrae-lu-al rf-ilts all the time. He be jevecl ~, buil.li„ B the l,e,«] «eal y and improving the quality actnallv getting rid of the herd every S

years. He felt sure the committee appreciated the help given by criticism. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. Committee—Messrs. K. Tarrant. M. P. Phillips (committee), J. B. -Richards and E. Marfell (guarantors). Auditor, Mr. J. H. Thompson. NEW MEMBERS. New members were elected as follows: Messrs. G. W. Downs (Wharehuia), J. L. Corbett (Ratapiko), W. B. Hoskin (Wharehuia), H. Marchant (Cardiff), W. Dean (Stratford), L. Marfell (Toko), Mclntosh Youner (bt rat ford), Joseph Kowaleski (Inglewood), F. W. Toms (Huinga), E. J: Bullot (Waipuku). On the motion of Mr. Trimble, a vote of hearty thanks was given to the committee for their good work during the year. He said the returns trom butter-fat were excellent and due to hard work, but he would lih-e to see more experimental work done. The chairman said that they appreciated the. recognition given rif their work and accepted it in the spirit in which it was offered. Cordial appreciation was also expressed of the work of the Agricultural Department, specially Mr. A. J. Glasson on giving such valuable assistance. tn A rt!l eart,y V °r te of tha,!ks was passed to the press for generous help in the matter of publicity, which, said the tbeir n woric. le Ped thMn Ver - y much in A general discussion then took place of matters of interest to farmers, and many questions were asked and SrSle. TheW ”- in be *» - . A vot . e I . of thanks to the chairman for presiding and for his very mg address concluded a good meeting.