FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 June 1928, Page 6

FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

ROOT GROWING COMPETITIONS OTAKEHO CENTRE'. Every year the farmers all over Taranaki have contests in the very valuable and practical art of growing of root crops. These have been in operation for several years- and have undoubtedly led to a decided improvement -not only in quality, but also in culture and in returns' from the area under cultivation. The judges and advisers are Mr Deem and Mr Glasson, of the Agricultural Department. In most centres the competitions are run by the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, but in Otakello district the Farmers’ Association of Otakeho controls them and their 192 S contests were held yesterday. The work started at Mr Jas. Dakers’ farm on the Lower Glenn Road, where, as a welcome preliminary to the day’s operations Mrs Dakers very kindly entertained the party to morning coffee. Nearly twenty fanners followed up the judging, ears being supplied InMessrs A. O. Walker, J. E. Young, D. D-avison, Atkinson and the Department to whom the committee is much indebted. The official party was entertained at dinner by the association at the Otakeho Hotel. The executive was represented by Mr E. T. Burke (president), Jas. Dakers (vice-president), ant, Air H. R. Wood (bon. secretary). There was a fairly good entry oi crops, but several were dropped out, and in the end eleven were judged, the average being quite satisfactory. At the conclusion of the work Mr E. T. Burke, president, in thanking the judges for their valuable assistance, said that undoubtedly cropping was going back round Otakeho, because othe top-dressing done by farmers, a change of policy, which was on the right lines. They could not afford on this good land to- do too much cropping, because of the risk of importing noxious weeds and therefore they were bound to top-dres® regularly, but on the best and most economical lines. In conclusion fie repeated his message oi thanks to Messrs Deem and Gla-sson loi their good work fftr many years and also the Press for continued publicity. Acknowledging the compliment, Mi Deem said that undoubtedly the crops were going hack in point of numbers, but the quality was more than sustained. A small area was being cropped and more top-dressing was done by fanners. He counselled them to make the very best use of the land. The dry spell in the- early part of the season, when crops were just sown, had thrown them hack and the farmers had to use then; best endeavours in securing the best cultivation possible. He congratulated them and especially Air Walker, on the good work done and said that Air Walker’s had -shown better cultivation than any of the others. He commended the farmers of the district foi their consistent fostering of the competitions and hoped they would always secure success. Results were as below* (two points being allowed for each ton and a maximum of 10 each for cultivation and quality); AIANGOLDS. A. O. Walker, 62 tons 5cw r t, cultivation 9, quality 8£ —total 142. J. D. Bashford, 60 ton 14cwt, 8, 81— 137 L Jas. Dakers, 59 ton 2cwt, 9, S—l3s. Jas. Daker®, 49 ton 15cwt, 7, 8— 1134. CARROTS. Jas. Dakers, 51 ton lOcwt, 6, S—ll 7. A. O. Walker, 44 .ton 14cwt, 9,,9 107. J. D. Bashford, 43 ton 6cwt, 81, 8— 103. F. Atkinson, 36 ton, 7, B—B7. SWEDES. B. Rusltin, 34 ton llcwt, 7, 7 —S3. J. D. Bashford, 34 ton lewt, 7 8— 83 <i O. A. Burke, 29 ton 17cwt, 7, 71—74. Air Ruslibin beat Air Bashford by one point on weight, but lost one point on quality, and therefore they were equal for first place.