FEILDING FARMERS’ UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 5

FEILDING FARMERS’ UNION.

CROPPING COMPETITION. The following is the report of Mr R. P. Connell, Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North, on the root cropping competition of the Feilding Farmers’ Union which will be presented at a meeting of the union to-morrow afternoon :—- Mangels.—H. Hancock, Awahuri, 1; H. Hancock, Awahuri, 2; W. D. Marshall, Waituna, 3. Meritorious crop: R. H. Knox, Kimbolton and W. JMills, Tokorangi equal first. Swedes: Jacob and Son, Kiwitea, only entry. It is interesting to note that whilst climatic and insect conditions made most swede and rape crops fail: (a) the completed entries in the mangel competition have increased by 35 per cent; (b) the average yield per acre of 80.4 tons is a record for the competitions. This indicated the usefulness of mangels to withstand drought and insect pests and farmers’ increase in mangel production as fodder crop. Survey of past six year’s competitions : AIANGELS.

The above figures denote good increases in both entries and tonnage of mangels, but a sharp decline in swedes. In Air H. Hancock’s winning crop of mangels the widtli between the drills has been decreased from 26 inches to 22 inches, yet this grower has produced a greater number of heavier roots in the measured chain than in the preceding year, viz.,

Season Roots per Chain Av. Weight 1933- 161 4.91bs 1934- 163 5.51bs

Tn the winning crop Lhc distance allowed for when thinning was approximately 5 inches and the roots resulting from this method of thinning are solid and free of hollow woody -centres, a peculiarity which was very noticeable this season. Ploughing was commenced on October 1, followed by discing and harrowing. The seed was sown on October 20 at the rate of 51b an. acre in 22-inch drills with oewt. of blood and bone manure. The crop was hand-lioed twice and liorsc-hoed fire times. The popularity' of the prize winning A el lon Globe mangel was again in evidence in the competitions, 27 of the entrants using this variety, 4 Red Intermediate, and 2 were mixed lines in which the Yellow Globe featured. The competition for the most meritorious crop takes into consideration the difficult nature of the country in which the crow was sown and also the lighter type o. sod, as compared with the more rich Hats upon which many of the other crops were sown.

DETAILED RESULTS. H. Hancock, Awahuri, No. 1, average yield in tons, 143.06. H. Hancock, Awahuri, No. 2, 132.26. . , AV. D. Marshall, AYaituna, No. 1, 101.06. T. K. Clraino. Kiwitoa, 98.02. E. AV. Barnett. Tokorangi, 93.96. AY. D Marshall, AVsiituna, No. 2, 92.81. A. Lawson, Kimbolton, J 12.28. P. Green. Stanway. 88.71. A. J. Baxter, Feilding, No. 1. 86.81. R! H. Knox, Kimbolton, No. 1, 86.14. AV. G. Booth, P.B. Feilding, No. 2. 55.23. AY. J.. Mills, Tokorangi, 81.96. Jacobs and Son, Kiwitea, No. 1, 81.84. Jacobs and Son, Kiwitea, No. 2, 77.11. IT. B. Johnston, P.B. Feilding, No. 1, 76.98. R. Ferguson, Kakariki, 75.55. A. J Baxter, Feilding, No. 2, 74.04. AV. G. Booth, P.B. Feilding, No. 1, 73.83. A. S. Brewster, P.B. Feilding, No. 1, 71.88. A. E. Callingham, Stanway, 74.25. E. M. Hare, Cheltenham, No. 2, 70.00. E. M. Hare, Cheltenham, No. 1, 68.35. A. (S. Brewster, P.B. Feilding, No. 2, 07.34. A. Kidd, Kiwitea. 66.95. R. H. Knox, Kimbolton, No. 2, 66.85. E. AY. Cowdrey, Halcombe, 63.08. AY. R. Davies, Box 10, AVaituna, 65.89. H. B. Johnston, P.B. Feilding, No. 2, 61.60. D. L. A'ounger, Makino, 54.07. R. AV. Brown, No. 1, 50.90. N. Peat, R.D. Feilding, 52.85. R. AA 7 . Brown, No. 2, 48.53. Jacobs and Son, Kiwitea, 28.51. Average yield of competition. — 80.403 tons per acre.

Season. Entries. First. Second. 1929-30 7 64.7 64.4 1930-31 7 67 59.4 1931-32 23 93 95 1932-33 18 103.1 100.06 1933-34 23 107.07 97.02 1934-35 32 143.06 132.26 SWEDES. Season. Entries. First. Second. 1929-30 3 38 25 1930-31 3 66 48 1931-32 8 58 53 1932-33 6 68.5 58.1 1933-34 7 70.8 63.4 1934-35 1 28.5 — AVERAGE YIELDS PER ACRE. Season. Mangels. Swedes. 1932-33 ... 62.8 48 1933-34 ... 62.04 57.4 1934-35 ... 80.4 28.5