MOMOHAKI STATE FARM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1732, 10 May 1905, Page 63

MOMOHAKI STATE FARM

(By a “New Zealand Mail” Reprepiesentative.)

The Government experimental station, known as the Momohaki State ■Farm, and situated some twenty odd miles from Hawera, was visited by the Haw-era correspondent of the “Mail" recently. The short journey from Hawera was primarily made with a view of inspecting the poultry division, but the other divisions are well worthy of note. At the present time there are eight stud horses being wintered on the farm, and are all in excellent condition. These ar-e: The shire horseDanger Signal (whose stock, it is stated, are turning out exceptionally well), the thoroughbreds Malachi, Amasis, Glenapp (a bay horse that has just had one season in the colony), Lukin (considered the best thoroughbred horse on the farm, and whose stock is bringing good prices, a son of his recently bringing £200), Singlestick, Nuptial Rite (a five-year-old grandson of the well-known Donovan), and Basuto. The horses are housed in two large buildings containing about a dozen looseboxes and other necessary rooms, and last year four new exercising yards were provided for the horses. This was a very much-needed improvement, as the roads in winter are altogether too muddy for the horses to be exercised on.

The Kerry-Dexter and Kerry cattle were looking in fine condition. Before leaving Home the cows were visited by the bull; one Kerry-Dexter calved about three weeks ago a fine bull calf ; while other three cows are also in calf. The other cattle kept on the farm are Shorthorns.

Some little time was also spent in the nui'sery, which, for the time of the year, was looking very well. Owing to the absence of the expert in charge of this department no details of the work and exjreriments conducted could be obtained, but to those interested in this branch of farm work a visit would amply repay the time spent. A feature of the farm is the drive from the main gate, which is bordered with hedges composed of a great variety of shrubs. Each variety extends a few yawls, and in the centre is a hoard with the name of the hedge, thus giving an excellent idea of the hedges made by laurel, holly, barbery, hawthorn, etc. During: a brief conversation with our representative, Mr Gillanders, the overseer. stated that the farm now consists of 500 acres, 140 acres having been added about six months ago. There were between 500 and 600 sheep on the farm at present. The overseer stated that attention had been given in tlie breeding cf lambs this season to ascertain what cross was the most suitable for expoi't purpose. Mr Gillanders was unable to supply any details of these experiments, as his returns were not yet completed. In reply to a question as to whether the farm was paying its way the overseer replied in the affirmative — that was, if improvements were left out. For instance, at present the hands were draining part of the 140 acres recently added to the farm, and the cost of such work would have to be spread over a considerable number of years. Also the stud horses, which stood in different parts of the colony, were wintered at Momohaki, and suitable buildings for

their accommodation had to be elected, necessitating a large outlay. With regard to the poultry division, Mr Gillanders stated that during the season there had been a very heavy demand for eggs for hatching, Wyandottes and Leghorns being chiefly in demand. The number of sittings of eggs sent out for hatching was 627, and 809 fowls were sold for breeding purposes, the revenue from this source being almost £SOO. Last season the Government received from Home a large consignment of GO odd purebred fowls, and of this shipment (which was acknowledged by those who saw the birds to be a distinct acquisition) Momohaki received a rooster of each breed. The poultry buildings were now completed, and, it is thought, will give ample accommodation for several years to come —that is, unless a new departure is made in the form of a laying competition. Last season was practically the first of the new wooden house, which is capable of holding 1000 chicks. •Leaving the overseer’s office Mr Handley, one of the poultry experts, led the way to the poultry yards. As in other departments on the farm, everything is conducted on up-to-date lines. The incubator room is built of concrete, floor and walls, to prevent oscillation, which in less substantial incubator houses havS a serious effect tin the eggs being hatched. There are seven 100-egg machines and one 220-egg machine. The latter is a hot water incubator, called the Improved Victor, and was presented by Nimmo and Blair to the Government. There is one Hearson and one Cynhus, while the rest are the Prairie State. The American incubator is considered the most satisfactory, and is also the

cheapest. Some little distance away is the storehouse and mixing room, the latter with a large copper boiler for making the mash. The wooden house has only been used one season; it is 46ft by 15ft-, contains 12 brooders, with a small room at one end containing a 12-hour system stove which supplies the heat for the brooders. These 12 brooders run down the centre of the room, and the necessary heat is supplied by two hot water pipes which run through the centre of each brooder. The chicks

are kept a day in each brooder, commencing in the brooder nearest the heating stove, and are thus gradually hardened off. False bottoms in tiitj brooders allow the chicks to be brought up closer to the heat, and each broode;

is connected with a separate grass run. This brooder house has a capacity or about 1000 chickens. From this building the chicks are then put into im. cold brooder house. Three breeds of ducks are kept on the farm, Peking, Aylesbury and Indian Runner- am.- -

kins come next to tiie xnuian Runners as layers, while trie Aylesbury are better crossed. There are two pens oi eac ir breed, as well as a yard of young duchs. The breeds of fowls kept on tne iarm are Langsiians, Minorcas, noudans, ±"iymoutli Rocks, Gold, Silver and White Wyandottes, White and Brown Leghorns, and Andalusians. Indian Game, and Silver and Dark Dorkings are not being kept at present. Tne expert stated that for layers a Houdan-Yv mte Leghorn cross was very hard to beat. Leaving the separate yards of puiiets and cockerels of tlfe different breeds, a flock of thirty Buff Orpingtons were next inspected. As fanciers know, it is hard to breed all buffs good in colour

ancl without black in tail, and when it is said that of the thirty Buffs inspected not one had black feathers in the tail it will he generally conceded that for quality they were excellent. Of course, the farm does not breed for show points, but for utility and in this respect the Buffs did their share of the “basket filing.” In another large run were a number of cockerels, of different breeds,

which are to be used in the breeding pens. Most, of these birds are bred from imported birds, and are looking :n excellent health. The breeding pens, Av'nich will be occupied in about a fortnight by the breeding birds, are built on up-to-date lines. There are two house at the end of cacii of tile Vkit by 24ft grass runs, one lift by lift, the other sft by sft, the latter having a floor of fine earth in which the fowls dust, and the former, used as the roosting house for the seven birds, having a concrete floor covered with straw in which the grain is thrown at night. There are twenty-eight of these bleeding pens. They are built m two rows, with a concrete path running down the centre. During the off-season the birds are taken out of the breeding pens to allow of grass being sown in the runs, and the birds are distributed over the farm in colony houses. There are thirteen of these colony houses on sledges, five being in the fields, the other eignt being used for housing the young stock already referred to- Wheat is the staple grain for the evening feed; barley is fed sparingly and oats are fed crushed. The diet varies according to the season, bran being mixed in mash in summer as a bone forming food, while in the winter months mangels and turnips are put in the mash (principally for the ducks). Green bone is also fed, being an excellent nitrogenous egg-forming * food, and grit is always before the fowls. A couple of bronze wing turkeys were also seen on the farm. Before Mr Brown (who has been appointed assistant to Mr Hyde) left the farm recently, lie made a rough model of a trap nest,

which is extremely simple, and could be made by anyone. A wire frame, hinged on the inside at the opening to tbo

nest, leaves the entrance clear till the hen is in the nest, when on entering she pushes aside another piece of wire sticking out from the side of the nest box- This action lets the wire door fall and the hen is a prisoner. It is probable that trap nests will be introduced on the farm, and although their introduction will entail a considerable amount of extra work the knowledge afforded by the egg-laying records Will doubly repay the extra labour. Considerable annoyance and loss has been sustained from the depredation of hawks, about eighty being killed last season. At present the staff consists of about a dozen men. Mr Gillanders is overseer. Mr T. 11. Chapman lias charge of the nursery department, Mr Blanchard the horses, and Mr Geo. Evett (assisted by Mr Handley), the poultry.

The work on the farm is characterised by enthusiasm, those in charge showing a keen desire to produce good results in their respective branches.