FARMING DISCUSSED BY THE WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9011, 17 October 1892, Page 3

FARMING DISCUSSED BY THE WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The monthly meeting of the Waikato Farmers' Club was held at the club-room on October ', 3rd. Present: , Messrs. J. Fisher (president), J. Forrest (vice-presi-dent), the secretary, R. Reynolds, ; H. Buttle, Allen, W. and A. Souter, R. C. Dyer, G. E. Clark, H. Hyatt, D. S. Hicks, S. A. Hicks, Jos. Gane, H. Clark, Seddon, Cubis, Hunter, Morgan, Rhodes, H. Ferguson, Hears, Howard, Sharp, and G. Comer. ~ ■' THE SHEEP DISEASE AT TAURANGA. Two letters were received from the Live Stock Department, one stating that the department were now proceeding to secure a piece of land in the Tauranga district for the purpose of finding a remedy for the disease prevalent in that district amongst sheep, and that the experiment proposed by the Waikato Farmers' Club would be tried the other stating that a final inspection was now being made, and it is hoped that the colony will soon be declared free from scab. This will clear the way for the export of sheep to the Australian colonies.. FARMING AND ITS PURSUITS. The meeting was confined to a discourse upon "Farming and its Pursuits." Mr. J. Forrest opened the ball by saying it was a question whether oats or wheat took the most mineral matter out of the soil, and he would like to have some practical farmer's opinion on the subject. He was of opinion that oats took less out of the ground than wheat, and that therefore it would pay the farmer best in the long run to grow oats, as the after crops would be better on land that had been in oats than that which had been in wheat. Mr. Fisher said his opinion was that crops after wheat did better than after oats. If the straw was put back again into the land it would regain its fertility. Hay took more out of the land than oats or wheat, but he had heard farmers say that oats took more out of the land than wheat. Mr. G. E. Clark said he had cut hay off a piece of land for several years, and then sowed it in wheat, and reaped 42 bushels to the acre. He then put it down in mustard with 2cwb manure to the acre, and fed it off with sheep, and after this it grew splendid grass. He had grown turnips after oats and after wheat, and only got one good crop after oats, bub several good ones after wheat. Mr. Hyatt said he had once grown a good crop of oats on a piece of land, and no grass would grow there since. The exact amount of mineral matter taken out of the land by oats was 1911b, by wheat 1721b. The best way to make the land retain its fertility was bo alternate deep-rooted and shallowrooted crops. Probably the cause of farmers being ab variance in their opinions on the subject was that oats will grow in a rougher and colder climate than wheat. Mr. J. Gane said he had found clover grow better in land after ib had been cropped with wheat, turnips, oats, etc., than before. In a paddock where one-half had been in oats and the other had nothing in, there was better grass on the piece that was idle than on that which was in oats, and therefore the oats must have taken matter out of the ground which the grass needed Mr. Reynold said he had a splendid crop of clover in land that had been in wheat, turnips, oats, etc Mr. C. Allen said oats took less out of the land than wheat, as grass did much better after it. It was not true that hay took more out of the land than oats or wheat. He had seen a paddock in Auck- i land off which hay had been cut for 18 \ years, and he was sure it would not grow more than two crops of oats or wheab. The best way to grow grass was after swedes, but it would not do to grow swedes always, ' as only a certain portion of matter would bo taken out of the soil. Mr. H. Buttle said he had got good grass | after oats which followed swedes. The difference in land might account for difference in crops of wheat and oats, as wheat took a much stronger and heavier soil than oats. Mr. Clark said one advantage in growing grain crops was it gave the land a rest from carrying stock, as all grazing animals took a great deal of matter for making bones out of the land. He had good grass after two grain and three root crops. Mr. Forrest said there was some very strengthening matter taken out of the land by wheat which could not be found out, and grass after wheat would not fatten cattle like grass after oats. A man that grew wheat may do well for one year, but not after, bub on© who grew grass after turnips would make more and more every year. Mr. Buttle said he had seen by the New Zealand Herald that Mr. Pond had delivered a lecture to the Mangere Farmers' Club on "The Uses of Lime to the Land." He proposed, " That Mr. Pond be asked to deliver the same lecture before the Waikato Farmers' Club, failing which to forward manuscript of the lecture, and it could be read.to the club by one of its members." This motion was seconded by Mr. Forrest, and carried. Mr. Reynolds said ho would be willing to join anyone in a truck of lime, as it would benefit the stock very greatly if put on the land, and in their drinking troughs, as ib destroyed germs and insects which were so injurious to stock. the coming SHOW. Mr. R. Reynolds said the coming show was a great feature in Waikato, and its success rested with the club, and he hoped every member would do his utmost to make it such. If a person has an animal that was at all respectable, he should show it, as one or two competitors spoiled the show, and the more competitors the more honour to the one that gained the prize. It did some people good to get beaten fairly, as they tried all the harder to win next time. He was glad the show was to be held for two days, as the hurry and rush of one day's show would be avoided. He again urged everyone to do their best to make the show successful, and hoped that the show would be held annually, and increase every time. He proposed thab a meeting of the club be held after the show, and the judges questioned why they gave the first prize to this animal and the second to that, as a great deal would be learned in this way. Mr. J. Fisher endorsed Mr. Reynolds' opinions, but thought it would take too long to do what he (Mr. Reynolds) proposed. Many judges could pick out bhe beab beasb, and not be able to explain why. Mr. J. Forresb said he agreed with Mr. Reynolds about making the show a success, and the more competitors there were the better ib would be. Clause 68 in the schedule stated that the breeder must be the exhibitor. This would make it very awkward in showing for the prize for the besb pen of three heifers. If a man had three good heifers, and happened to have bought them all from their breeder, he could show them in the breeder's name, but if he bought two from one man, and one from another, he could nob show them. If stock should be compelled to go to Hamilton West it would be a great inconvenience to farmers, as it would be such a long way to take them to the show ground. Mr. Chas. Hunter said ib was rather confusing to see a horse entered for a weightcarrying hack and bhen entered for a lady's hack, as was done at Cambridge Show last year. Mr. J. Fisher said the committee had done their best to do justice to everybody. He would be sorry if clause 68 should exclude anyone from competing for the afore-mentioned prize, bub bhe rules could nob suit everyone. Horses could be entered in any class if the fee was paid, and this encouraged the breeding of a good all-round animal. Mr. Hudson had been interviewed by some members of the club, and said that stock would be allowed to be discharged on the platform of the Hamilton East Station, and any stock going on to Auckland would be brought back ab a reduced rate. THE SCALE nuisance. Mr. Sharp said a few words on the scale nuisance on fruib trees. He said thab the scale can be taken off, bub ib would come on again, as there was no permanent cure for ib, and when the scale gob bard nothing would touch it. H bhe Codlin Mobh Act were passed, ib would ruin farmers, as all live hedges would have to be replaced with wire. ... ~,, Mr. Fisher said orchardists and farmers should take steps to stop the measures proposed by. the Government, if the «ill were brought up again; •*'-->"