LUCERNE GROWING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 February 1925, Page 4

LUCERNE GROWING.

•v | DISTRICT COMPETITIONS. MANAIA CENTRE. Another very good and useful day was spent in the judging of the entries, 11 in number, under the auspices of the Manaia branch of the Farmers’ Union. Messrs Deem and Glasson went out to act as judges, and they inspected in the course of their work a number of most excellent crops, so close in quality and general condition that it was pretty difficult to select the winners. At the conclusion of the judging, it was found that Mr N. MacLeod’s mature crop on the Manaia road had been placed first, only a half point off the maximum, while Mr J. TV Clague’s entry was one point behind and the Demonstration Farm close up third. Mr J. T. Clague scored first in the two-year crop, and Stoddart Bros, first in the yearling crop. The detailed results were as below, points and totals: Mature Class. 1— N. MacLeod, 10, 9J, 10, 10 ... 394 2J. T. Clague, 9, 9*, 10, 10 ... 38* 3 Demonstrat’n Farm, 9,9, 10, 9 37 J- Bennett, 7*. 9,9, 8-1 .... 34 SC. .Tones, 7}, 8. 8, 9 32* 6 Stoddart Bros., 7*, 8,8, 9 ... 32*

Two-year. 1— J. T. Clague, 8. 9,9 J, 9i ... 3G 2 X.. MacLeod, 9,8, 9,9. J 35J

Yearling. 1— Stoddart Bros., 9,9, 9, 8 ... 35 2J. Da leers, 7,8, 7, 7 29 3 Demonstration Farm, 6,7, 7, 6 26 In these totals the maximum points are as follow : Freedom from weeds 10, evenness of crop 10, quality 10, colour and general appearance 10;.'• total 40. The judges arid visitors were entertained at lunch by the Manaia branch, and at afternoon tea by Mr and Mrs J. Dakers, of the Glenn road. Both courtesies were most keenly appreciated.

At the close of the day, just before dispersing for the day, Mr Clague, president of . the branch, thanked Mr and Mrs Dakers for their much appreciated kindness and hospitality, and expressed the hope that all had had a good, useful day. Mr Bennett, vice-president, congratulated Messrs MacLeod and Clague on their success, and said that the growing of lucerne might mean that the farmers would not need to grow root crops and that they would he able to cease putting in the plough, except to a small extent. He said he considered lucerne would be the salvation of the dairy industry. He thanked the judges for coming out to give information and to impart knowledge. He said he thanked them also on behalf of Otakeho, who this year had made a change in judges and hoped to gain in educational value by so doing. Air Deem, in reply, first thanked Air and Airs Dakers for their, kindly hospitality. He said that they had been oleased to see such good crops, showing sound methods and regular cultivation. Referring to the change in judges made bv Otakeho, lie said they appreciated it. and lipped that other districts would follow suit, and that other farmers would come in to act with them for experience. He personally congratulated Air MacLeod, whose °rops was perfect except for a slight failure in one or two verv small patches. He added, in conclusion, that nil the farmers should have winter feed in ample miantity—hay, ensilage and green feed—so that at some future time they could perhaps sell their ploughs as old iron. Votes of thanks to Air and Mrs Dakers. to the judges and tp the Star were carried with acclamation. and then the party went their several ways, convinced of the value of the demonstrations given bv the judges and the experience gained in inspecting the crops. It was announced that the next district will he Mangatoki on Afondav, February 16.