HALCOMBE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 20 July 1936, Page 4

HALCOMBE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) I-IALCOMBE, July 18. At the meeting oi Uio llalconibc branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr A. J. Galpin, of the Department of Agriculture, read his report on the farm competitions, us follows: —“I do not think that I should commence this report without congratulating' this branch on its successful uauguration of the competition movement in this district. Xo doubt n can be said that the movement has touched your locality for a numbor of years, but it is only since the local branch has been established that the movement has become a definite local activity. The fact that you have se n fit to make the movement a local activity can be regarded as evidence that you view its ultimate object in the same manner as the Department of Agriculutre, namely, it is one of the best and most economical means of recognising those methods and practices, based on local experience, that are giving to those employing them the most economical and payable returns. The importance of utilistig those methods that have boon shown to be satisfactory through the analysis of local practice cannot be too strongly stressed. For instance, much publicity ■ms been given to the necessity of potash in the successful production of mangels, ibis lias hem put forward as the result of overseas trials, but from the results obtained from the competition movement in this country, the use of potash is shown to be of very questionable economic value as regards this crop. Another typical instance of the importance of local results lis apparent in the much discussed . and generally advocated use of . lime. . A\ bile it is not intended to deal with this subject, it is interesting to note that the generally accepted belief that the application of lime is always beneficial and payable is at times cpi^lionable. For nstance, local trals have shown that in a.n area of approximately three square miles instances have been noted not only of a beneficial, but also of a depressing effect. Again, over wide areas whore tna.s have been carried out no effect ot lime can be seen, and if no effect is apparent. it is very questionable if the money invested has ever been returned. Ihe foregoing has been brought forward to support the importance of the analysis ot local practices, and as the competition movement is one that makes this possible it seems that while the movement lias obtained a measure of support it is one that could be profitably extended. For instance, considerable attention is given to swede, turnip, and carrot crops throughout 11 10 district; these with silage or hay competitions could, I think, . lie avenues that your union might consider as ones about which information relative to district practices would prove interesting and instructive. Mangels: lon entries were judged in this year’s competition. 'I he number, though still small, shows an increase over last season, the average yield was 50.1 tons per acre, and this figure is interesting for two reasons: —(1) It is the highest average district yield recorded, all averages with this exception being considerably below normal on account of the, unfavourable weather conditions experienced during the early portion of the year; (2) the fact that even under adverse seasonal conditions the district can return such a creditable average yield is sufficient proof of the value this crop has, both to sheep farmers and dairy farmers throughout the district, flic placed competitors were:—Mr R. Fcrgusson, 152 points, 64.8 tons per acre, 1; Mr V. Miles, 150 points, 64.3 tons per acre, 2; Mr N. Blunden, 146 points, 61.4 tons per acre, 3. Three points of interest arc evident in the methods employed by the placed competitors : (1) Liberal seeding, which was represented by from 4-611). per acre; (2) liberal manuring, which is shown by the fact that the minimum used was 4ewt. per acre, increasing to 7jcwt. per acre; (3) the importance of attention to drill widths, shown in the comparative returns. For instance, the competitor placed third actually returned the heaviest yield on the measured chain, and if lie had reduced his drill width to 26iu., tho same as that used by (lie winner, his yield would have been increased by at least 4 tons per aero. If he had used a 21in. drill, as did the second competitor, his yield would have shown an increase of over 20 tons per acre. Many competitor.? still cling to the once accepted idea that plants should he thinned out with 9in. to 12in. between plants; but ex pcricnco now points to a reduction to sin. or 6in., allowing for (he production of a greater’number of smaller and more solid roots. The fact that six of the competitors. used Yellow Globe seems to indicate that this variety is most popular in tho district. This popularity seems justified when it is found that the average of these growers is represented by a return of ever 50 lons per acre. The following is a brief outline of the methods adopted hv the placed competitors:—Mr K. Fergus--son: The area was ploughed in Peptone her, sowing in 26in. ridges at the rate of 41li. rf Yellow Globe, in mid-October, and manuring at the rate cf 4cwt. an acre oi j

a proprietary mixture. Mr V. Miles: Ploughed on October 20. aud sown at the rate of 61b. per acre of Intermediate Red in 21in. drills, on the flat on November 5 A proprietary ferti'iscr mixture was used at the rate of 7£civt. per aero. Mi N. Blunden: Ploughed in September bib. to the aero of Yellow Globe, in 30m. drills, on October 16, using a proprietary fertiliser mixture at the rate of scwt. to the acre.”