EXPERIMENTAL FARM WORK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 February 1925, Page 4

EXPERIMENTAL FARM WORK.

AT THE STRATFORD AREA INTERESTING FIELD DAY.

Appreciation of the value of the work being done at the Stratford Demonstration Area by the local committee under the direction of Air J. W. Deem (chairman), ably assisted by Air A. J. Glasson and by the manager (Air Hart ), has grown as the work has gone on year by year—the farm was taken over in 1917, being then a very rough, broken place, and therefore a valuable place on which to demonstrate good methods. Inlterest in the farm has been shown by the ever-increasing number of farmers from every part of the province who go to inspect the various experiments being undertaken and to watch the methods employed —the pastures laid down, the manures used, the crops being grown, the model milking shed, the very good dairy stock and pigs, and generally all that is being done on the farm. Erom these visits they undoubtedly derive much value, accompanied as thev are by an interesting descriptive talk by Air Deem as the party of settlers go from paddock to paddock. Yesterday afternoon there was quite the largest gathering ever seen there on a field day, well on towards 200 farmers being there, and all spent a profitable two hours. The general lay-out of the farm has been described in these columns on previous occasions, and is known to most farmers. Suffice it to add that the party inspected the crops—lucerne, turnips, Chou Aloellier (French cabbage), field peas, artichokes, mangolds, carrots—and the various pastures where grasses of different kinds were being tried out. They saw the plots of lucerne, grown in drills of different widths and broadcast, the seven-inch drill proving the most profitable. Air Deem emphasised the need of growing so as to get as much leaf as possible right down the stem, one pound of leaf being equal to four of stem, and of stacking in the right way and at the right time so as to preserve the leaf. The turnip crops were of various kinds, and all seemed as far as possible the best for resisting the blight and rot which is’ so prevalent all over the district. The crops certainly all looked very well, though there were traces of blight. Mr Deem emphasised the value of Chou Moellier and other similar fodders which, while giving great feed value, did not risk tainting the milk. Of these he said Chou Moellier was one of the best, and had proved almost wholly blight resistant. He advocated a kind that was not too heavy and big in the stem as being the most profitable. Chou Moellier was perhaps, he said, not so good for milk production as turnips and not so fattening as rape, but it was an excellent fodder, and so far as he was aware did not taint at all.

The peas were another experiment, and he said they were proving very valuable, a crop of 12 tons to the acre being secured after less than three months’ growth. With turnips and Chou Moellier they made an excellent ration. They were strong in protein, and were very valuable for dairy stock and excellent for pigs. An interesting experiment had been tried by a man who undertook to kill blackberries with a sprayed preparation on to the plants. Ttie process was not yet completed. Air Deem said his opinion was—and it was endorsed by actual experiment on the farm—that the only effective way was to plough twice and put down in some crop. On the farm they had effectively cleared land in this way.

The mangold and carrot plots of several acres were looking particularly well, clean and well grown, and should turn out very wel. Air Deem said it looked perhaps a. lot to have, hut it was astonishing the amount a dairy herd would consume with advantage to themse.lves and the milk supply. Two small plots of mangolds and carrots show an experiment in growing with. potash and no salt and with salt and no potash. A n extremely healthy plot of / artichokes will provide capital fodder for the pigs, who relish it very much. Several of the pastures were inspected, and provided an interesting object lesson to all! In one particular paddock the experiment of last year in putting down various types of clover (colonial and imported), and another in cocksfoot (Danish and Akaroa). The results are very valuable. And the pasture was a special object lesson in manuring—one half having 6cwt super put on at one time and the other two lots of 3cwt each—and the better results shown by the latter were quite evident. The milking shed was a model, and was inspected with interest. The cows, it may be added, are doing better this year than ever before, and are well ahead of last year. Afternoon tea having been partaken, Mr R. Masters, M.P., expressed the pleasure of all at being present on the field day and seeing all the good work being done. He said he was specially struck with the number of young men present and the interest they took, and said he was sure the lessons they learn must later be reflected in their farms. He paid a high tribute to Air Deem, Mr Glasson and the committee. Air Deem, responding, said he was pleased to see so many young farmers present, and hoped all* would get valuable information from the visit. He referred eulogistically to the work of the manager, and said they owed a lot to him and his staff. He hoped all the visitors would come back, on any day they wished, and see again what was being done. Air J. B. Richards, on behalf of the committee, expressed their appreciation of the interest taken by the Agricultural Department, and specially Messrs Deem and Glasson, whose constant supervision was responsible for the success achieved. The farm was a valuable, asset to the district.

This concluded the day’s work, and all left satisfied they had spent a profitable afternoon.