WINTER SHOW

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 June 1939, Page 8

WINTER SHOW

CITY SCHOOLS’ ATTENDANCE. CHILDREN IN THOUSANDS. Thousands of children to-day brought, an atmosphere of youthful enthusiasm to the National Dairy Show, tin l estimated attendance from ten schools, out of standards 3,4, 5 and 0 only, being 1500. This afternoon. when the younger folk were to go with their parents or friends, the figure was expected to rise to between 2500 and 3000. Arrangements were made tor a general gathering point in the main grandstand, where sections were placarded with the names of the schools —Terrace End, Central. Hokowliitu. Russell Street, AVest End, College Street, Marist Brothers, Convent, Allison, and Longburn. From this point- various parties set out on conductor tours, teachers being responsible for the discipline of the children. Air AV. H. Brown, a member of the ALinawntu and AVest Coast A. and P. Association and also a member of the AVanganui Education Board, was in charge of the arrangements. He had a committee to assist him ,and Colonel J. U. AYhyte and Air I. AV. Aludford (Koxton) lent aid. Members of the Young Farmers’ Clubs and the Women’s Institutes cooperated in conducting the parties round the Show and explaining various sections. Free rides on donkeys were to he provided for the children. Sideshowmen who were faced early this morning with wet weather and a possible decrease in takings found a harvest in hundreds of children who flocked about- the amusements and rode or drove in the various devices. At I one period in the morning sunshine broke through the clouds. Later the weather was dull anc!,cold, with several showers. . It is expected that- between GOJ and 2000 children will attend to-mor-row. Thirty-three schools are being represented, and extensive arrangements have been made for their entertainment. the limes of arrival of tho various parties and their subsequent movements being the subject of much organisation. COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBIT. [)EPART.AIENT OE AG 111 C'U 1 -TUII E. A comprehensive exhibit has been staged at the AYinter Show hv the Department of Agriculture. All sections of farming are dealt with and the officers of the department are in attendance giving short talks and discussing matters relevant to their section. In the Fields Division exhibit pointed attention is drawn to two outstanding means of increasing per-acre production and thereby reducing production costs. First under secil certification is illustrated the improvement in vigour and production capacity ol perennial ryegrass and of white clover, elfected by the selection of improved strains of these plants l>v the Grasslands Diviion of the Plant Research Bureau. The method of increasing the small quantity of pedigree seed available each year from the Research Station by seed growers is shown thus. Fifteen to twenty bushels of nucleus stock seed from the Research Station is grown under contract by the Department of Agriculture by selected . seed-growers. AYith a good crop this I small quantity oi seed is increased to from 500 to 1 OtIt) bushels. This seed is known as Government slock pedigree seed and is sold through merchants to seed growers. A'ields Irom these sowings average about 30-40 bushels and the 500 to 1000 bushels in the second year can he increased to 15,000 to 20.000 bushels of what is known as pedigree seed sufficient to sow lrom 7000 to 10.000 acres. Most of this seed is used by seed growers for increasing the supply ol mother seed lrom which the commercial seed supplies ol certified “permanent pasture” and commercial seed are derived. Properly organised from, tho Plant Research Station through the seed growers to the fanners wishing to improve the production capacity ol their pastures, the introduction of pedigree strains can and should rapidly replace the original certification scheme in which the more mixed typo of rye and white clover from old permanent pastures was the basis ol certification and improvement of the seed trade in these very valuable species. The introduction and extension of the use of pedigree strains gives: (I) The seed grower higher seed yields with remarkably lower machine-dress-ing losses; and (2) the dairy farmer and fat- lamb producer perennial rye and white clover, with a much, greater production capacity. Farmers interested either as seed growers or in the improvement of pastures will find this section of great interest. FULL USE Oh’ PASTURES. Under tho heading “Dairy Farmers, are you making full use of your pastures: 1 ” is illustrated the second means of increasing per-acre production. It is claimed that a good pasture of dominant perennial rye and white clover grows enough food in each twelve months to produce up to 5001 h of Initterfat per acre. .Measurements over a number of years of the growth of pastures and their analysis at both the Alart-on experimental area and at Ruakura show that a good average pasture can produce, if fully utilised 11. to 12,0001 b of dry matter. This quantity of feed in the form of young leafy grass is enough for the production claimed providing good cows and good management are used. A few farmers have succeeded in producing from 300 up to 3001 b of Initterfat per acre in addition to breeding young stock and carrying other farm animals such as horses, pigs, etc. The returns quoted are factory returns of butterfat divided by the total farm acreage and in each ease the herd and young stock are wintered on the farm. To do this, if all allowances arc made for loss in land, in buildings, yards, hedges, etc., and the carrying of young stock is not far short of the- possible, the feed supply from the pastures is extremely well organised.

Utilisation of the Iced produced by the pastures is the outstanding feature and is the true indication of a good farmer. The exhibit illustrates a 90-acre farm carrying 80 cows with a butterfat average of 350 cows and factory returns of 3001 b. per acre. Tito organisation of the feed supply from the pastures is illustrated by showing the farm at three important times of the year, July, November and February. In July 30 acres are shown with 0 8 inches ol -growth, the result ol closing this area in April and Alay. This feed is considered too good for dry cows and is rationed in July to Hie early culvers which are also fed; hay and silage. By the time this reserved grass is fed off the first ol , the paddocks used for wintering are ready for grazing and the herd in late August and September makes a round of the farm. As growth conies away in October paddock after paddock is I withdrawn from tile rotation and closed for hay and silage to catch the flush of growth in October and November and early December. Tints up to 30 acres of the 90 acres is closed and <-ut for winter Iced. As Hie paddocks are cut (hey come

hack into the rotation so that- by January the whole farm is being grazed each paddock in succession. It should he noted that effective rotation grazing is obtained where fields can he grazed off in two to three days and nights, then closed for the time required to make fresh growth. This varies from 26 to 30 days in the spring and late summer to as little as H) to 12 days during the flush. Therefore. 15 to 16 paddocks grazed in turn two days and two nights will allow lor a spell ol ii]) to 30 days, while six to eight paddocks available for grazing in October and November will give a spell of 15 to 1C days. It is claimed that the organisation of the lecd supply and hotter pasture utilisation will effect great reduction in production costs. ORCHARD SECTION. The main features of the exhibit ol tho Horticulture Division are specimens of the principal diseases retarding the production of fruit at the present time. Different scale. insects, codling moth, black spot, powdery mildew, red mite and woolly aphis arc all shown. The orchard instructor (Air L. R. Rciioiif) who has arranged the exhibit, is giving information on the control of these" pests. Samples of spray materials required to control the diseases mentioned are also shown. .SHEER AND AYOOL. The wool exhibit enedavours Lo show the menace to the trade of the rapid growth in the production ot artificial fibres. It illustrates sonic of the common faults in wool brought about by a careless preparation lor market and also shows some oi the more important virtues of wool. There are also on view various types of rugs which are used in the South Island for covering lambs and hoggets during tlie winter months. I ests have been carried out by this department in co-operation with certain farmers in the south-with very gratifying results both in the appearance of the wool, the price it made at the wool sales, and the general health ol the sheep. This particular exhibit should interest; farmers as no rugging of sheep has so far been attempted in the North Island. The department is anxious to do a few trials on crossbreds as up to now only Merino and Corriedales have been covered, and welcomes co-opera-tion Irom any farmers keen jo give rugging a trial on their properties. All Lusk, the officer in charge of this section. is pleased io meet farmers, wishing to eo-operaie. AIMARY SECTION. Ala 11V aspects ol apiary location are missed’ by beekeepers. The apiary display at the Show is aimed to help the apiarist to consider whether his apiary site could be improved. The exhibit shows various types of nectar-producing flora arranged around a model apiary. The hives, set out on a green stand, suggest that the use ol green concrete or bitumen may improve hive conditions, obviating much of the trouble caused by entrances becoming blocked by grass and weeds. A model honey house attached to the exhibit is open and the various implements used ill extracting honey from the comb arc easily seen. A notice prominently placed enquires whether “You keep bees or if bees keep you. - ' ’ The answer to that- question may decide beekeepers to take advantage ol a series of winter lectures arranged hv the Department of Agriculture. FIG-KEEPING. The pig-keeping section includes model pig yards, (arrowing houses, fattening pens and other equipment. Photographs of the equipment ill use demonstrate the practicability ul the equipment-. .Methods by which pigs can lie kept clean and healthy, and muddy conditions eliminated. are shown. Information in cheap hut successful winter feeding of store pigs with various rations is sot out, and information on sow feeding and litter feeding is given. The importance of restricting the fattening ration of bacon pigs in order to reduce excess back fat is pointed out, and the results of trials now being carried out by the Department of Agriculture at Ruakura Research Station prove that by restriction the overfat pig is eliminated. POULT 11V. The poultry exhibit is set out in a. manner which should he of interest to all poultry-keepers. Amongst- tlie displays there are a number of transparencies of various breeds of birds, illustrating the points to look for when selecting breeding stock or general culling. There are also models demonstrating the most suitable type of poultry house, a simple trap nest, a simple gate spring, broody coop, and a cuffing crate. Apart from this there is a display of various meals and grains which have hen tried out at the W’allaceville Poultry Station with success. A number of leaflets on feeding, housing? and troubles affecting poultry are available. Air H. A. Kittu. poultry instructor for the province, is in attendance and is giving information on any subject in connection with poultry husbandry. BETTER, DAIRYING. Some excellent photographs of recommended dairies are displayed by the Dairy Division. Types of separator rooms arc specially interesting and instructive. A stand is also on view showing photographs of Flock House, at which, young men are trained in all branches of farming. This college is a farm ol> 6000 acres. Excellent facilities are available for students to learn all types of farming and lit themselves for taking on farms themselves in the future. In the Live Stock Division, the most interesting display is the internal digestive organs of the sheen. Placards show in which area parasites are most prevalent and also explain control measures for the parasites. There is also a stand dealing with mammitis control.