ROOT-GROWING CONTESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 13

ROOT-GROWING CONTESTS.

COMPETITIONS IN WAIKATO. [B Y TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. J HAMILTON. Tuesday Root growing competitions are being inaugurated by the Agricultural Department, in conjunction with branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in the Waikato. The competitions are governed by rules prepared by officers of the department, who act as judges. Soft turnip plots are generally judged in February, swedes and mangels are judged in May and June. The rules re quire that the soft turnip and swedo plots should not be less than one acre in area, and the mangel plots half an acre. Points are awarded in judging for weight of crop, cultivation, freedom from weeds, and quality and type of crops. Where there are six- or more entries, a Government certificate of merit is awarded the winner.

It is considered that if the competitions become generally popular, much useful information could be obtained regarding the suitability of seeds soil, and fertiliser for the crops, which would be of considerable benefit to farmers throughout New Zealand.

A mangel growing competition was recently held at Te Kowhai, and awards were made as follows:—Best crop, tonnage basis: A. G. Porter (59.6 tons), 1; C. A. Magner, 2. Best cultivated crop: W. E. Perkins, 1. Mr. Porter also won Messrs. G. E. Clark and Sons' special prize, and Mr. Magner won the Farmers' Auctioneering Company's special prizo.