A STATE FARM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5804, 23 January 1906, Page 2

A STATE FARM

VISIT IX3 lII'A KURA. EXPERIMENTS IN OATS. It is greatly to be regretted, especially at the present moment, when the thinkers for the agricultural popuiation are endeavouring to obtain greater consideration for agricultural education, that farmers gencially do not take a more lively interest in the farina that are being conducted by the State. There are five of those in the North island alone, and a visit to any one of 'tlwm would be a valuable education to a farmer who feele he has* anything to learn. A representative of the "New Zealand Times” recently had the privilege of iti.sjMieting the farm at ituaiajra. Waikato, and meeting a number of Waikato farmers, who had lusen.bled on the invitation of Mr K. Clifton, the Chief Stock Inspector for Auckland province. Itnakura, a few miles from Hamilton, lias a particular interest for farmers. One of the primary objects of tlii.s farm is to demonstrate what can he done with land of poor quality by nystcmatic scientific farming. When the property was taken over for the preterit purpose in 1902, most of the land had been plaut;!icu, but the grass wan of poor qualify, and some parts had boon almost cropped out. The drainage was also unsatisfactory, much of the land lying under water during the wet season. In view of the circumstances, the opinion was expressed at the time that much could not be expected of the place for several years. It is highly satisfactory, therefore, to find what has already been done. The land is now generally in good heart, and the cropping experiments this year are of considerable value to farmers in the district. ( EXPERIMENTS IN OATS. There is a twelve-acre paddock at Iluakura on wliieh nine varieties of oats have been experimented with this year. Turnips were grown on the paddock last year, and the oats were sown rather late on account of the bad weather. The crop was put in lengthwise, and manure was applied in strips crosswise, eo that the so cos;-s of each variety of oats with each kind of (Ire-sing would bo evident. A strip along tiie fence was undressed, and there were successive (.trips dressed as follows:—(1) 2 cwt blood and bones; (2) 3 cut cuperphotphatos; (3) 1! cwt bonedust and Ik cwt superphosphate; (4) cwt bone substitute (rock phosphate, kainit, etc.). This paddock, when the experiment is complete, -hon'd demonstrate for the benefit of the Waikato farmers which varieties of oats may be expected to bo fairly rust-proof in the district, while at the same time giving good straw and head. The varieties tested were:—White Tartarian, Black Winter, Abundance, Storm King, Pioneer, Red Itimt Proof, Newmarket, Improved I>un, and Grey Winter. The sowing was at the rate of 2 cwt to 3 cwt an acre. All the varieties were headed, and the effect of the diifcrcnt manures could be distinctly detected in some cists in the appearance of the crop. Nothing reliable can bo said on this point before tbo threshing returns are available, beyond that the bone substitute appeared to give good results in every case.

As far as rust is concerned, there was not a single variety that was not affected. The least affected wore the Pioneer and White Tartarian, and the worst the so-called lied Rust Proof, which had been cut on this account. Tho lilac!; Winter was a poor crop, putuibly because it was sown too late for a winter crop. Tho most attractive varieties in the field were Storm King and Pioneer, the latter being moot favourably commented on by tho farmers present. The Storm King was an exceptionally strong grower, with straw rather heavy, owing perhaps to thin sowing. Tho grain, which was short, and full, was described by Mr Clifton as the heaviest ho had seen. Although it was noon late, tho crop was a very even otto, and stood oft high. Tho Pioneer, wellknown in Otago, showed much finer straw, and was altogether a very desirable variety. Tho Newmarket appeared to have good chaffing qualities. Tho experiments axo now in charge of Mr W.'lXbble, tho new inrin manager, Hy means of them the Ruabura State farm is endeavouring lo ascertain what tho ordinary farmer cannot, afford to undertake at his own expense. Of co urhi. the State farm cannot be regarded as a commercial undertaking. If it, was sought to ruin it on paying linos its usefulness for the purposes of experiment and demonstration would be greatly curtailed, its value would simply bo tho amount it could earn as a farm. HAYMAKING. On another part of the farm haymaking was in progress, almost all of tho work being done by machinery. An ingenious American implement, a Thomas endo-deUvcry windeower, was busy throwing up tho swaths into rowa, with remarkably clean results, while in another part of tho paddock tho old backdolirery rako was doing the same work in more laborious and less satisfactory manner. For taking tho hay to tho stack there wore two devices. The first was an English sweep (tho Jluddlostone). It has a twolvo-foot roach, a homo being yoked at either end of tho lifters. Whoa commencing work, the points are depressed to the right position by a wheel close to tho driver's hand. The sweep gathers up an exceptionally Large load, and returns to the stack with the paints elevated. Then tho spider elevator, worked by a horse and tackle. lifts the load in ono or two takes to the top of tho stock. There was also at work a Keystone hay-loader and waggon. Tho elevator, which is detachable, travels along behind tho waggon, picking up the swath and loading Ivs it goes. While tho waggon returns to the stack, the elevator does tho same service for another. It may. of course, bo argued that expensive machi'nory like that in use at Ituakura is boyon'd the resources of the ordinary farmer. and undoubtedly it is in the great majority of cases, but a small measure of co-operation would effect a great

deal. and bring labour-saving appliance within the reach of most farmers. SICUXTING A DAIRY HERD. Tie- dairy hen.! at Ruakura promises to Is- a very valuable i institution. Mr Cl if: • hi, whoso work in connection with experimental fanning receives the unanimous commendation of Auckland fanners, is at present huuy :n the selection of cows for the Ruakura herd. Kef<ll>M4 to hay, they are being selected on actual test! the yield* of every animal b**;ng aweraiiied before it is (Jocund fuAhe lie <l. Although at least one prominent dairyman, Mr O. Day, of Tam;there, pins hm faith to the Jcr...y—with a slight cross in prospect—w’ukato has generally plumped for the short horn, amt the State herd accordin,dy is being built up on shorthorns. The'fields wiii be very carefully recorded ; nd the herd always kept up to standard, so ihat in future bulls’ of really good milking strains will bo available for the use of dairymen in the district. Tito lawrence-Kennedy milkin'' machines, which are in use at Ruakura. a ret still giving every satisfaction.