AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 7

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

An ordinary meeting of the Executive Com- ; mittee of the, Auckland Agricultural and ' Pastoral Association \, was held yesterday ' afternoon, when the president (Mr.' R. Hall) presided and there was a large attendance. Otahuhu ; Grounds: A telegram was re-»'; ccived from Mr. W. E. Massev, M.H.R., v stating thai the Bill containing,the"•clause,'" granting the show ground at Otahuhu to the association had been passed. On the motion • of Mr. Kingswell the meeting passed a r hearty vole of thanks to the president and Messrs. Massey and Kirkbride, M.H.R.'g; for ; their energetic efforts in this connection. Manuring Experiments: The Department of Agriculture, writing in reply to a letterfrom the association regarding 'manuring of grass lands, stated that the matter had been referred to the Department's chemist, who suggested that the advisableness of using nitrogenous manures on grass land waa doubtful, it being better to employ a phosphatic manure to stimulate the clovers pre- • sent; they in their turn enriched the soil in nitrogenous food, thus benefiting the other grasses. Should it be desired to try. the nitrogenous manure, the association was recommended to use nitrate of soda, ammonium sulphate, or calcium nitrate. Experiments were being conducted with calcium cynamide, but this manure was"'-' not suitable for lop dressing. The ■ secretary v (Mr. E. Hall) said with regard to nitrogenous manures on grass lands, it was on these lines the first series of experiments were initiated, and the association informed the Department it proposed to work on these lines, and to add four other classes. It was now too late this season to proceed with any further experiments. The ■ letter was received. Show, Invitations: It was decided to extend the usual invitation to Sir John Logan Campbell to drive round the ground* at the , forthcoming show. This has been the privilege accorded only to Sir John for some years past. The secretary announced that the Minister for Lands hoped to be able to be present on both days of tins show, but there was not much chance of the Governor being here, as His Excellency was , due in the South about that date. Mr. ! Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture, hoped to ' be present. Grassing Hilly Country: The Rev. George Wilke, of East i'amaki, wrote requesting the association to endeavour to get the Minister for Lands to visit his property. A large portion of the Auckland district consisted of hilly land that could not be plough- ' ed, and the hills were deteriorating. Th» proper grassing of hills was'an important colonial matter. He (the writer) could demonstrate how land that had been ploughed and sown in the usual manner with rye, cocksfoot, and white clover, and, had run , into danthonia and vernal, mostly this latter, '.' and capable of sustaining life in stock, certainly not of fattening, them, w(Mt now X giadually but surely improving, m that sheep now not only lived but fattened!, and this had been done at little or no cost beyond his own labour. The matter -ipus left' in the hinds of the president. Milking Machines: The secretary reported that one agent would exhibit a milking X machine at the show. The president said the labour question in the dairying districts was gettincr a. very serious question, and unless milkina: machines which would be thoroughly reliable could be obtained dairy farmers would be restrict ed to heirdi'i they could milk without hired labour. It was , decided to rail off" an enclosure on the ' grounds for the demonstrations. ■:....■-.' Agricultural Instruction: Mention was made of the school gardens at Papatoetoe and Pakuranga as being up-to-date in the matter of horticultural and agricultural instruction and experiment, and a committee was appointed to visit the schools officially.":, at some later date. Cattle Trains: Mr. Salmon browbfc ; up r the matter of cattle trains, referred to at j length at previous meetings, and.related instances of cattle bpine damaged : for. beef ■ purposes bv continuous shunting' of trucks lat country stations. Stock was being con- ! tinuallv knocked about on the trams md arI riving late at Remuera \ yard*. He advocat-. -.. ! ed an exclusively stock train being rig at ' night The president said there should be i double floor trucks installed on the railways - for slock. It. was decided to appoint a deputation to wait on the railway traffic! raana- ' ger in this connection. The meeting also '.y requested the secretary to watch that sufficient paddock accommodation.was provided at the nfw abattoirs. , ■-:;','. ■■'*/,•■ - -■-■ r : , y"']\ ':■'.*• T New Members: Nine new'-members were nominated and duly elected. -.--.•