CO-OPERATIVE FIELD EXPERIMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8363, 25 February 1913, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE FIELD EXPERIMENTS

GRAIN AND FODDER. WAIRARAPA TESTS. At last week’s ehow .at Masterton a very interesting exhibit was made of the various fodders and cereals that have been cultivated by Wairarapa farmers on the co-operative experiment principle. Mr G. do 8. Baylis, the department’s field officer, who superintended the experiments, was in charge of the exhibit at the, show, where he was able to meet many farmers and explain to them the peculiar merits of each separate variety, most of which are comparatively new to New Zealand. The following remarks supplied hy Mr A. B. Wood, agricultural chemist, give a brief summary of the season’s experimental work: The first lot to come under notice was that of Mr W. Cameron, of Te Oro Ore, who grew one acre of Victory oats, which provided sufficient seed to sow thirty acres. Mr WPerry, Penrose, grew the Hannoben barley, and during show time his surplus stock was put in the hands of thirty farmers locally. Mr Perry secured 95 sacks off 6i acres. This cereal is' looked upon as superior to any barley grown in this district, and will form a permanent green feed both for sheep and cattle, and can also be relied upon to produce a payable quantity of seed. The “Ligowo” oats, grown by Mr George Shaw, of Te Ore Ore, presented a pleasing effect, being well-grown, and possessing high quality of straw. This is an oat which has gained first place among graingrowers who study quality. No rust or amut was present in the crop, and this is the second year Mr Shaw has grown the oat. A similar experiment on a different class of country wts conducted hy Mr W. C. Miller, of the Upper Plain, and Mr E. Harper, of Matahiwi- Gratifying results have been obtained in each instance, although the season has not been one that can bo looked upon as a grain season. Mr Harper also con-

ducted an experiment with kale. This seed was greatly admired, and under test proved itself to be of high germination, thus proving that this district can produce kale in marketable quantities, consistent with quality. Samples of lucerne were shown by Mr H. Bygum, of Mata kiwi. Though this country is not the best for lucerne, it is hoped that with the treatment adopted a permanent yield will bo obtained. The results so far are very favourable. Mr J. Telford, of Fernridge, also exhibited samples of lucerne, which may be looked upon as a great success. Mr John Hunter, of Alanaia, Masterton, exhibited quite a nice sample of Veitch’s Perfection pea, thus showing that pea cultivation can be extended to high-class varieties. Mr K. Ragle, junr., of Carterton, exhibited a sample of lucerne which looked remarkably well, considering the class of country he chose for the experiment. The effect of perfect cultivation has, in this instance, again been demonstrated. Mr Eagle states that if cultivation were the only stumbling-, block he was prepared to state that iucerne-growing would bo a success. Air W. F. 0. Tyiee, of Makuri, produced Beardless Proptier oats, a usetul oat possessing great strength and • abundance of gram. Mr F. Court, of u'aihakeke, also produced a nice sample of the same oat. The Yandilia .ving wheat, grown -by Mr C. _ Gundy, jf Featherston, was quite a nice mulling sample, but unfortunately this disitrict is not called upon to provide any ;other wheat than “chick” wheat. 1 1 nis almost seems a pity, in view of 'the quality which can be produced. The same remark also applies to a wheat produced by Mr J. Taplin, of Akura, Masterton. Mr H. Evans, Upper Plain, grew a nice sample of Turkey Red wheat. More of this wheat will be heard when Mr Evans has taken the thing further in hand. Garton's rye grain, by Mr W. Perry, of Penrose, although only a small experiment, will be a distinct advantage to this district.