DEMONSTRATION FARM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 November 1929, Page 6

DEMONSTRATION FARM.

WAIMATE WEST (MANAIA). EVER, IMPROVING POSITION. An interesting survey oi the work done during the year ended on June 30, 1929, was' placed before members present at the annual meeting of the Waimate West Demonstration Farm, Manaia, yesterday. Members of the committee present wore Messrs J. W. Deem (chair), A- F. Gamlin, T. A. Bridge, J. Leslie, S. Le Fleming, F. Mourie, E. J. Betts, H. H. Buxton, J. M. Smith, and 11. Palmer (of the Agricultural Department), and A. Paterson (manager).

ANNUAL REPORT. The report was as follows: The season, on the whole, was quite good for milk production, and the Dutterfat returns show an increase of 734 Id for the year- This is satisfactory when it is remembered that several old cows past their best were milked. This season 14 heifers are being, kept to replace: old stock. Fresh cows could have been bought last season to build up the butterfat returns, but we were opposed to buying in fresh stock if it couici me avoided, o<vjng to tlie danger iof introducing disease. The financial position of the farm continues to improve, overdraft this year standing at £1450 5s lid, against £1939 9s 3d last year—a reduction of £489 3s 4d, which is very good. Pig sales were £69 los Id, against £52 9s 2d, an increase of £l7 5s lid. Thirty bobby calves were sol’d and netted an average oi 9s lOd per call, against 5s 2d last year. The valuation of live stock stands at £735 this year, against £721 last year. It is also interesting to note that our interest charges are only £llß Is, as against £155 17s last year. After allowing for the usual depreciation our assets stand at £3128 6s sd. Pastures have to a great extent recovered from the grass-grub invasion mentioned last year, but one or two fields were badly affected this season. Probably now that the grub has gone all over the farm we will be more free of it for a time. The tests between old pasture perennial rye and ordinary perennial rye in field 4 are still very striking. The fundamental grassland research areas in fields 5 and 8, laid down by Mr. Levy, agrostologist, Department of Agriculture, present some wonderful comparisons and are always worth a visit.

The potash top-dressing experiments were continued on the same lines as last year. 24 acres receiving phosphates and potash, and 24 acres phosphates only, the grazing being clone by the whole herd and factory- weights ot milk being recorded each day. This year the areas receiving phosphates show an increase of only ii9Boib of milk against a loss of 3871 b last year, or a total gain of 26131 b of milk _ for the two seasons- The difference is really small and not very significant, but when taken in conjunction,with ocular observations does not- point to any beneficial results from the use of potash on this farm. It should be mentioned that the fields receiving phosphates only received extra super to the value of the potash on the other fields, and at all times looked the best, and, if anything, were preferred by the, cows; but there was not much differSix acres were treated with sulphate of ammonia last year, getting three dressings of lewt. per acre. very little result was noticeable last year, but early this spring the nitrogen area showed a considerable building up of the ryegrass content and a big reduction of catsear. Twenty-four acres have now been divided up into ,eight, three-acre paddocks and water laid on. These have all the same phosphate manuring, but four have received an additional 2cwt. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, the intention being to graze the whole eight fields on the most approved methods and record remits to determine the value of nitrogen top-dressing on this land. 'ILe lucerne area continues to do well. The first cut, as usual, was made into silage, subsequent cuts being used for hay 'and green fodder. The practice of sowing a bushel of oats per acre to a portion of the area lias been -ontinued This greatly increases the first cut for ensilage and helps to control grass and weed’s. Oats have now been used for six yeans, and so far have had no detrimental effect on the lucerne.

Root crops were confined to an area each of mangolds and carrots, and about an acre of maize. Part of the mangolds wore a poor strike and the area was redrilled with swedes, the ombination giving a lot of ieed. Catrots and maize were good crops. Hie farm gained second prize for carrots in the Okaiawa farmers’ field competitions. On a small area near the shed a number of varieties of mangolds u ere sown and provided some splendid roots for the Hawera Winter Show. The four best varieties of mangolds were: Eerriston, 110 tons; Red Intermediate, 108; Prizewinner, 102; Barres Stryno, 95. Ferriston is a selection made by Mr- Hadfield, agronomist. Department of Agriculture, and a good cropper but rather rough quality. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS.

Commenting on the position generally, the chairman said that the committee was generally well satisfied. At present ensilage was being made from oats and lucerne. Crops to be sown ivere mangolds and carrots (one acre each) and chou moellier (two acres), while six lots of mangolds of a new • ar.ety were to be sown. In all, there was reserved for hay 18 acres. The (yearling Jersey bull purchased by Messrs Buxton and Long had been received on the farm, it was a nice young animal and had a good butterhut backing and would be used on the heifers. Fifty cows were being milked and 19 heifer calves reared, and there were 16 yearling heifers There had been verv little trouble with mammitis. J'hcre was, however, a drop of about oCOlb of butter-fat for the season, and a gain for October of 401 b. The milk supplied yesterday was 14911 b with a 4.6 test. Mr. Betts questioned whether nitrogen might not kill the clover, and whether the test was going to be successful. . With proper grazing, said the chairman, there appeared to be not much fear of that; but the tests would prove this definitely. In reply to Mr. Leslie Mr- Deem said that some people said the paddocks were too large, and that two-acre paddocks were being used. The tests, he hoped, would prove that question. A general discussion ensued on this aspect of farming, opinions varying a good, deal. , , ,11 The chairman said that remarkalxle results were being secured by the small paddocks. , T . After passing the accounts Mr. Deem said that, though he was handing over the control to Mr. Smith, he would endeavour to be present at, meetings every few jnonthS.

tribute; to air. j. w. deem. RESIGNS FROM CHAIR. After a. period of service dating from the i nception of the AV a ini ate AYest Demonstration Farm, near Mauaia, Mr J. AV. Deem yesterday intimated to the members of tin; committeei a( the annual meeting his intention to resign from the chairmanship, owing to his departure from the district. Tributes to his good work were paid by Messrs T. A. Bridge and A. T. Gam'lin, who expressed the keen regret of all at the change which had been rendered necessary. Jll acknowledging the vote l of appreciation, Air Deem remarked on the excellent service rendered bv members of the committee, and expressed approval of the fact that Messrs Bridge and Gamlin, who were both formerly members, were once more 011 the committee.