NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1922, Page 6

NORMANBY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

FARMERS' UNION

LECTURE BY MR J. W. DEEM

Last Thursday Mr J. W. Deem, of the Agricultural Department, gave an address in the Town Hall on topdressing and lucerne culture before a large and appreciative audience, including a number of visitors from Tokaora and other places, and it is pleasing to note that there were several ladies present. Mr R. Clement occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Deem.

Mr Deem said lie was pleased to see so many present, which spoke well for \ the Normanby branch, which, had evidently taken a new lease of life. He was also pleased to see ladies present, and he hoped it would not be long before he would see a lady in the" chair, and then the union would boom. Mr Deem spoke on top-dressing first, and advised farmers to do this when the pastures were at their best, iveep your pastures full of clover, and you will have very little to worry about, said the speaker, as clovers draw nitrogen from the air; also keep the harrows going regular, and so spread the animal deposits well over the surface. During the autumn basic slag was probably the best, and in the spring basic super and superphosphate. A good dressing for this district was 13cwt super, 4cwt ephos, 3cwt burnt lime. Regarding lime, Mr Deem mentioned that the soil in the district was deficient to the extent of two or three tons of lime per acre, and he advised "settlers to put, say, lOcwt of lime per acre on the pastures, and then when they could afford it repeat the dose. Regarding lucerne^ Mr Deem said that it was a good proposition for pigs, as they would do well if turned out on a paddock, and instanced what had been done at Moumahaki. The speaker advised intending growers to pick the best piece of land possible, if slightly undulating so much the better; plough, deeply and cultivate well, and if-" a green crop -is ploughed in for manure this should,be done three or four weeks before. September and October are the best months for working the ground, and be.sure the ground is very firm. Marlborough seed is the best, and the best time for,. sowing was about the middle of December, using the drill through every coulter, or broadcast after the Cambridge roller 151b of seed per acre. It -was better to inoculate the soil by using 2cwt or 3cwt per acre of soil.from an established paddock. Lime should also be used liberally. Regarding manure, Mr. Deem said that the better yon treat,lucerne the better will be the results. , Give it a good dressing in: September, and you will get a good growth when you most want it. Lucerne should be cut when the new growth shows round the crowns of the plant. After cutting give the ground a good cultivating with tine harrows or light cultivator. '

A general discussion then followed. In reply-to Mr G. H. Mills, Mr Deem said that he did not think that if as much time was spent on the rest of the farm as oh a lucerne patch the result would be as good, as you would not get feed when most wanted. Mr Gawith said he had discontinued using the chain harrows on' his paddocks, as he considered it a waste of time, and he got equally good results. Mr Deem said that he could not agree with this, as his experience was quite to the contrary. The only way to prove it was to divide a paddock and treat each part differently, one part harrowed and the other not, and he was sure the harrowed part would come out on top; Mr T. W. Owen said lucerne was a most valuable crop, and one he would not be without. Mr F. Mills (Tokaora), on behalf of the visitors from there, thanked Mr Deem for his . valuable . address. Mr Deem knew what he was talking about, and the reason was not hard to find, as besides his large practical experience he was continually rubbing shoulders with the leading farmers of the district and uses the cream of their brains, and he assured the audience that the Government men were out to do all they could for the farmer. On the motion of Messrs Clement and F. Riddle a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Deem, who briefly acknowledged the 'compliment.