DOES FARMING PAY?

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 August 1927, Page 7

DOES FARMING PAY?

At 2001 b of Fat Per Acre HOW IT IS DONE It would be highly interesting to be able to make some comparison between the returns given by the “Morrinsville Star” of a Tatuanai farm and farms in the Manawatu. We are in the habit of quoting the butter-fat production of individual cews and herds but what really counts at the end of the financial year is the return per acre. If any of our Kairanga dairy farmers can equal or better the returns submitted to the “Star” by Mr H. V. Hem'icson, of Tatuanui, “Rustlcus” would be very pleased to publish the particulars.

The land of Mr Henricson’s farm is drained swamp, well shetered on the southern side by a belt of pines, while lawsonianaa have been planted on the other frontages. A vast improvement has been made by Mr HenrScson during his occupancy of the farm. He first acquired the block in 1914. when it was rough and unimproved and partly covered with a growth of tea-tree. The land was brought in and the greater portion laid down in pasture. After two and a half yeais the farm was disposed of, but In 1923 it came back into the original owner’s hands. It was then only partly fenced and drained, and its carrying capacity about half of what ; t is today. Four years of topdressing have improved the farm out of sight and it would be difficult to find a betterlooking property.

The block has been divided into 13 paddocks. These are topdresesd in alternate years, twice and once, so that one year they receive 4 cwt. to the acre and the next 2cwt. This expense is more than compensated by the increased yield of the herd. No crops of any kind are fed to the stock although hay and ensilage are made for winter feeding. The herd is a mixed one, comprising 98 cows. The return for the last season was, 32,0001 bof fat, or 2001 bto th e acre. This figure is a record for the farm and a particularly creditable performance for such a large acreage.

A special feature of the farm and one in which Mr Henricson takes a justifiable pride, is th e piggery. This is specially constructed, the pigs for fattening being kept in an orderly row of sties with concreted floors and troughs. Four runs are provided for the breeding sows and boars. The pigs, of which there are 130, are fed on specially prepared meal during the winter which enables them to be in good condition in the spring when a demand sets in. It also enables the sows to be brought in at least a month earlier.

A special electric plant was installed for boiling, the food and keeping it warm, and, as this is the only one of its kind in the Dominion, power supply authorities are watching it with considerable interest with the view of introducing it more extensively to the farming community. Two vats, of a capacity of 120 and 200 gallons are kept continuously heated automatical. The h, eating unit consists of a series of elements inside and underneath th e containers. For four hours raild, when the peak load occurs, the power is switched off automaticaclly. The material is boiled in the smaller containers, and theretransferred to the other one, where it is kept hot. Mr Henricson says* the plant is giving him every satisfaction, and costs only £3 12s a month. The cost of installing -was less than for a steam boiler and has the advantage of not requiring constant attention.

In marked contrast to many farm - houses is the neat bungalow, equipped with wireless, set amidst closely-crop-ped lawns. The farm might well be termed a "model dairy farm.” It is certainly a modern one, and provides an emphatic answer to the question, "Does farming pay?”