FARMING IN U.S.A.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 29 September 1943, Page 5

FARMING IN U.S.A.

INDUSTRY ON VAST SCALE Invercargill, Sept. 25. “Everything in the United States is carried on on a scale about TOO times bigger than in New Zealand—yet I am glad to be back in Southland,” declared Mr J. Murray Wilson, on his return to Invercargill after a seed mission on behalf of the New Zealand exporters of Chewings fescue. The only ways in which farming in America held any object-lessons for New Zealand, he said, were in largescale vegetable growing and in the use of modern farm machinery. He has seen grown by private farmers crops of 2000 acres of green peas for public consumption, 500 acres of carrots, and 200 acres of lettuces, the latter being sprayed by aeroplane. The New Zealand Supply Mission, which was in close touch with the New Zealand Government, had collected much data on these types of largescale crops, and it was probable that some of the technique had already been put into operation in this country for the feeding of troops. Owing to the severe winters stock was housed during those periods, but the dry summers created a problem. The Americans were very hospitable and were certainly doing a wonderful production job both on the farms and in the factories. One immense aircraft factory, working three shifts, had 220,000 employees, and in providing lunch had to cater for 70,000 at one sitting. In Washington the Pentagon building, devoted largely to war work, had 39,000 people at work. This building, which covered 30 acres, was just finished at a cost of 49,000,000 dollars. It was said that a civil servant went in as a junior at one end and came out the other end with a beard. One hotel in Chicago had room for 2500 guests, and included 300 employees in its laundry alone. The full complement of staff numbered about 2000. The mode of entertainment by Americans was to take their guests out to dinner, which, with the viewing of a floor show, would occupy about three hours. They consumed a great quantity of sea foods and greens, which probably accounted for their excellent teeth. Most lines of food were about three times as dear as in New Zealand, though tobacco and cigarettes were cheaper. Mr Wilson said that in Washington for 54 consecutive days the temperature was above 92 degrees. This, with the high local humidity, was equivalent to 110 degrees in New Zealand. Old residents stated that that heat wave was the worst for 75 years. Air-conditioning in hotels was the only thing which made sleep possible.