MASSEY COLLEGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 270, 14 October 1932, Page 3

MASSEY COLLEGE

MEETING OF COUNCIL. REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES. Tho council of the Massey Agricultural College met on Wednesday, Hon.. Sir George Eowlds presiding. Others present were Messrs P. Levi, A. Morton, W. Perry, H. B. Stuckey, Norton Francis, J. D. Hall, T. U. Wells and Professor Hunter. Professors Peren and Riddet were also in attendance.

Tho principal (Professor Peren) reported that visits lrad been paid by students during the winter to many properties in the Manatvatu district. Of GOO chicks being reared in the poultry department, only 13 liad been lost. This was a lower percentage than ever before. “Miss Stewart has now complete charge of the contest birds and recording,” the report added. “For the past four weeks the average production for the 108 birds has been 22 eggs, which is higher than we have ever had Ik 1 lore. To date only one bird lias died. The single penned birds show a slightly higher production than tho team flock birds and I am still not satisfied with our team conditions. If competitors will consider entering ten birds instead of six we could divide the present pens into three, thus housing each owner’s birds separately. This would not be costly and we could house the same number of birds as at present. “Mr McLinden, Dr. Dry and myself have been asked to give lectures and demonstrations on live sheep at the Poverty Bay A. and P. Show. I have also been asked to judge tlie wool exhibits at this show. I have agreed to give a lecture and demonstration at Maraekakalio on November 17. Requests have been received for lectures at Dannevirke and Te Poliue, to which I have agreed, dates to be arranged in due course.

“The main road fence on the Terrace has been repaired. Repairs are being carried out in the horse paddock behind the stables and to the road fence on the Pahiatua block. The fence along the Aokautero Road is in u bad way, the renewal of a large number of posts being necessary. The plantation on tho right hand side of the drive has been fenced off so that the feed can now be controlled by stocking. Hitherto it has been necessary to cut this by hand. Approximately one-half of tho farm road on the Terrace has been graded and blinded with fine metal from tho Tiritea. At various times during the winter work has proceeded with the logging lip and burning off of paddock No. 15 on the Pahiatua block. This work is practically completed.” THE DAIRYING SECTION. Professor Riddet (Dean of Dairying) submitted bis report us follows: “Weather conditions have been particularly favourable in this period. After a dry winter, early spring ruins accompanied by fairly warm weather stimulated the growth of pasture by the end of August, and by mid-Sep-tember there was abundance of feed. Already some 29 acres of grassland and five acres of forage crops have been shut up for hay and ensilage and it _:s intended to close up an additional 17 i acres next week. In contradistinction to the experience of last season, excessive rate of growth of pasture has given rise to considerable trouble with its utilisation. Almost daily for the past fortnight, there has been numerous eases of ‘blowing’ in the milking herd. One cow succumbed to an onset in the first week of September and another on September 30. It is quite apparent that the trouble is not due to clover; quick growing luscious grass gives just as much concern as clover. There are 86 cows and heifers in milk, of which 59 have conic into profit since the date of the last report. When tested on September 16, the average 30 day production for the held of 76 cows was fully 351 bs. butterfat; 11 cows exceeded 501bs for the 30-day period. The continual recurrence of ‘blowing’ is restricting normal production at present. Approximately 20 late calvers have still to come into profit. To date, 20 heifer calves and one hull calf have been kept for rearing. “The boar purchased from the Hawkesbury College is in quarantine on Somes Island and should be delivered in three weeks.” The reports were adopted.