SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 4

SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

CO Till SE OF POPULAR LECTURES. AGRICULTURAL, DEPARTMENT’S SCHEME. THE OPENING DAY. The week’s course of instruction in farming planned this year by the Agricultural .Department has attracted widespread . interest through the farming community, -tho opening lectures given at the technical College yesterday were largely attended, ■and a total of nearlv 150 were enrolled during the dav. Mr A. ±l. Cockayne, Director of the Fields” Division of the Agricultural Dopavtment, is the director of the school, Rim presided over tho lectures. He announced that there was a box in connection •with the school, to which farmers invited to send in all sorts of queries. If they are easy to answer,*’ he added, • • wo will make a good shot at —(Laughter.) The lectures and demonstrations will be continued each morning, afternoon, and evening, and brought to a close next Aion<,ay' SOIL FERTILITY. The first lecture of the series was delivered at 10 a.m. on tho subject of ‘Soil Fertility,” by Mr K. S. Green, Chief Agricultural Instructor to the Department of Agriculture. Mr Green pointed out that this subject was of tho greatest importance, not only to farmers, but to tho community at largo. In spite of all the scientific investigations that had been made on tho subject, much yet remained to bo done. The soil might bo regarded ns the chief asset, of tho business of agriculture*, and it Mas tho fanner’s chief raw material. Wo spoke of a soil os fertile • when it would produce payable crops. This did not refer ..solely to (ho amount of plant food it contained., for plants needed also an adequate supply of tho oxygen of the air and sufficient warmth. It must not be. forgotten that the roots as well as the loaves of plants breathed oxygen. Soil could no longer bo regarded as dead, for it w-as found to bo teeming with myriads of microscopic living organisms. Some of those were useful to the growth of plants, and some were injurious. The question of tho fertility of the soil must be viewed not merely from tho chemical standpoint, but the physical condition of the soil played quite as important a part. Some ten food elements wore necessary to support plant life —carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. The greater number of these elements, though not tho greater bulk, wore derived by the plant from the soil. Ho described the nature arid characteristics of humus, and showed how important it was that the soil shfculd be well ventilated, should have sufficient moisture without excess, and a sufficiency of lime to neutralise the acids produced. Among ex.porls in New Zealand it was agreed that the soundest and most economic method of supplying- organic matter to the soil was to utilise animal excrement and crop residues rather than by ploughing in the whole crop. Tho lecturer explained the beneficial action of lime on tho soil in sweetening sour soils and acting as a base for (he neutralisation of nitric acids for the production of nitrates.

At the closn of the lecture a brief interval w;is allowed for questions and. discussion. JM;c questions mostly concerned the use of lime in its various forms, and much practical information was given in response bv Mei-srs Cockayne, Green, and It. B. Tenjient. 'llm effect of lime on club-root in turnips was discussed in some detail. FARM FINANCE. The second lecture, on "Farm Finance," by Mr James I3egg, whs neatly referred to by the chairman as "The most important lecture of (he lot—how to borrow.' Mr Begjr said he claimed no special knowledge of the subject beyond experience such as all his hearers had had. The fact was that if a man had sufficient to buy and stock a farm he very rarely did so-^-(laughtor)—-and so ho had to borrow. Thus it was that the mortgage seemed to bo an ineradicable plant in the New Zealand soil. Money was being invested here on mortgages at 6 per cent., but the rate was higher up north That other investments wero more popular with tax-paying investors was certainly the case, and ho thought for the following reasons: (1) Doubtful value of landed securities (2) The different rate of income •tax on different classes of investment. (3) the existence of tax-free Government bonds. (4) The system of graduated taxation imposed on companies. A large amount of-money invested in mortgages had been lost during the past two, years and the extension of the moratorium had thrown a 'further doubt on the soundness of the securities involved. Tho different rate of :income lax on different classes of inve«t-;>n-flnt was a matter that should be vigorously attacked by farmers. The special privileges accorded to local body loans and company debentures should bo abolished immediately. In the competition for money these privileged bodies had an unfair davatita«*e .l.he existence, of tax free Government bonds was an evil that must run its course Wo must pay for our mistakes. But'farmers should determine that never again would any Government under any cireum•■■stancss whatever be allowed to issue tax free vbpnds—not even for the use of an agricultural bank. Tho system of graduated -taxation applied to public companies had beeu the subject of keen discussion, and one leading business man took the view that this system was accountable in great part for the farmers' difficulties. The speaker held that the fanners themselves were the ones most to blame for the inflation of laud values. Mere cheapness of money would not be a solution of their troubles, as some thought. What was wanted was a reasonably stable relation between tho prices of form products " and the price of what the farmer had to buy including tho use of money for which he had to pay. He expressed the view that fbe farmer should bo in the position to r pay half the price of the farm, and the other half could then easily be raised on mortgage. He had yet to hoar of any farmer who had started fanning under these conditions and failed to make a success of it. There was, an element of speculation in farm buying even when the land was got for nothing. When buying the future course of produce prices should always bo in tho farmer's mind, but that was difficult to predict. He was oldfashioned enough to believe that the world must sooner or later return to a gold stan:<!]ard, and that must be accompanied by; a 'general fall in the price of commodities. Bookkeeping- was necessary to enable a farmer to ascertain his financial position; but no one except those who had a fancy for complicated accounts, should attempt to keep more than a few simple books. Exact costing was an impossibility, and when attempted it broke down with its own weight, but some approximate idea was necessary to etiablo a. farmer to ascertain ■which of his operations was paying and which bringing him a loss. Only 'improvements,, which added definitely to the value of the farm, should be added to capital account. lie advised all farmers to attend regularly to the sending in of income tax returns, but as income tax could not bo fairly assessed on farmers it should bo aA>olwberl as soon n.s llie Government could consider reduction of luxation. In summarising ho expressed the view that we were suffering from (lie effect of too much credit in the past and from the failure of the land to carry the burden of the debt, upon it. The only remedy was to ■Restrict tho credit, to a point considerably ijelow that established at, boom times. To Ifflake money available at moderate rates ol interest, Reasonable margins of security must 'be given for loans on mortgage.. Taxation must be equalised on all forma of investment.. Company taxation must be modified. Tho moratorium must come to an end.' Ju buying a farm they should bo in a " position to pay half the cost of the land and stock. Let them remember tho world's , currency was still inflated and the future . I'lr-ertain. They should keep hooks to show approximate co.-t of operations, so as -to be able to delete where loss occurs and to know what lines to specialise in. They 'filiould invest their spare money in improving the farm. • Thus yon might get into the lumpy position of not being interested in farm finance. Tf was only those who had to borrow or those who hud to lend thai, needed to cave for these •problems. ' Questions came promptly and freely to the lecturer, and the question of a possible return to a gold standard attracted considerable interest ; Mr Bcgg expressed diffidence in (welding i.fMiand the problem of agricultural hanking. _ hut rnffmni to the success of the system in countries where there was a large proportion of very poor ■ pgisants permanently attached to the soil. What were Farmers' Co-operative Associations? he asked, but farmers' banks. He was nositive that it would not bo wise to ask for tax-free bonds to assist nn agricultural bank. He did not think Mr T'o!- ■ son's Bill on agricultural banking was ; feasible in its present form, but that was • not the last '.void on the question. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr I'.egg for bia instructive and holpfu! oddroaa.

THE SCHOOL OPENED OFFICIALLY. SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES. The official opening of the school was' held in Hurt Hall at, 3 o'clock. There was an attendance of about 150, including a number of representative city men. The chair was occupied by Mr A. 11. Cockayne. In his opening remarks the Chairman told the gathering that the farmers' schools movement had been opened at Ruakura three years ago, and had since been extended considerably. Tho department, was satisfied that it was work of the sort that justified its existence.—(Applause.) The iirst. function of the department was the introduction of repressive measures that were not always appreciated by the individual, its second function was to .make research, and its third—ant! so far the most .important—to bring the 'fruits of that, research into the farmers' home. He would like to testify to tho generous assistance that had been "(riven by the educational organisations in connection with the preparations for tho school. Especially would he like to mention the Technical College Board fov placing at the department's disposal thair splendid building.—(Applause.) The Mayor (Mr H. 1,. Tapley) then extended a warm welcome to all who were present. He said that tho city .greatly appreciated the attitude of the department an connection with the school. He was sure that, tho farmers would benefit very considerably from the instruction that would bo given thetn. and, realising that the prosperity of the lamier meant the prosperity of the province, he hoped that the department, would be encouraged to hold further schools periodically. Wishing the school all success. Mr Tapley then declared tho school open amidst applause. At this stage there was a brief adjouru- | merit for afternoon tea. The next speaker was Mr J. Bogg, of the , Board of Agriculture. Jn tho course of some particularly happy remarks, ho contrasted the duties of the Department •of Agriculture with "the Board of Agriculture. The former told thorn what to do, while the latter mot a, few tiiftes during the year and gavo advice that was not always taken.—(Laughter.) He went on to say that the department was paying a tine tribute to (he farming community by the syllabus it had drawn up. He doubted if there was any other school in the city where the pupils would be expected to absorb such. a wide variety of subjects m five days. But he thought, Mr Tennent had done right, for after all the farmers wero intelligent people.—(Laughter.) He was sure that the school'would bo a great success, and that it would in some degree dispel the fog of ignorance that, cloaked the city people regarding the country people.—(Laughter and applause.) The President of the Otago Expansion League (Mr C. 11. Todd) extended a hearty welcome on behalf of that organisation. If the school meant that they wero going to gather information that would make inem better farmers it was an institution that everyone must approve. He referred approvingly to the establishment of an experimental farm near Alexandra, and declared that Mr Tennent had shown himself to be one of the most abb* men they nad had'in Otago.—(Applause.) He had shown them that there were great days coming for Central Otago through irrigation. He knew of a farm in Ida Valley that bad carried 60 sheep and a few horses and cows before irrigation; now it was irrigated, and it carried 1800 sheep.—(Applause.) The Central was only in its infancy in regard to dairying, as well as to fruit. and sheep growing. Bui more settlement was needed. "I tell you." said Mr Todd, "that the most, of you have too much land. If the areas wore cut up and farmed on scientific lines tne tola! production would be' increased, and besides, you would get morn profits."(Applause.) In support of his argument, Mr Todd quoted tho case of an area in Otago consisting of 160,000 acres that had been broken up —not as much as it, might have been yet—awl since it was subdivided it produced double the quantity of wool, five times as many fat sheep, and 20 times more grain than before. Ireland, he proceeded, had fed 4,500,000 people before tho war. and yet exported £35,000,000 worth of produce annually to England and Scotland. When New Zealand was settled more closely arid reached Ireland's standard of productivity they could expect to be feeding 13,000,000 people and exporting £100.000,000 worth of produce. After saying a word appreciative of the farmer's wife, Mr Todd closed with an expression of thanks to the Agriculture Department for what it was doing to assist the country. Mr Cockayne called upon Mr D. Andrew, president of the A. and P. Association. In doing so he remarked upon the debt the department owed to the association and the Farmers' Union. Mr Andrew expressed the association's appreciation of the start that had been made and said that lie hoped the next school would be held during Winter Show Week and at a site nearer the show.

The president of the provincial branch of tlie Fanners’ Union. Mr Craig, declared that (ho farmers did not work closely 'endiigli with the department. The department was. doing an immense amount of good in the-way of furthering farming on scientific lines. He hoped that tho lectures would bo of great benefit to those present and to tho province as a whole. Tie was confident (bat if the farmers worked hand in hand with the department the country’s exports'■ would be more than doubled in the next. 20 years. Mr T. Scott, chairman of the Board of Management of the King Edward Technical College, referred to the desirability of establishing school farms as well as of holding farming schools. The technical colleges were only touching the fringe of agricultural education. They should ho doing more than that in an agricultural country. At the King Edward College everything possible was done to tho boy who intended to be a farmer, but nothing could be done in the way of practical instruction, and'that was what was required. Tho college should have a fami where it could send boys, they to bo paid for their work. Tic was sure that his hoard would be always prepared to do all m its power to assist tho department to assist the farmer. Tho chairman ,of the Education Board. Mr J. Wallace, said it might interest tho gathering to know that every teacher had to take a course in agriculture. The matter of a course in agriculture was spoken of first in 1910, and in 1912 tho course in district high schools was begun. Out of eight such schools under the board six conducted agricultural classes. Before calling on Mr Niederer to speak on behalf of the Southland farmers, the Chairman read an apology for absence from tho president of the Southland Farmers’ Union. Ho added that, those fanners who had journeyed from Southland to attend the school would not need to do so next, year, for it was intended to hold a. school at'either Core or Invercargill. Mr Niedere expressed appreciation of the facilities provided by tho school and gratification that Southland was so well represented. Ho would like to thank the department for the chance of being present. A few words were also spoken by Mr Crawford Anderson on behalf of the Otago farmers Taking a facetious line, be declared that ho objected to being called a schoolboy after 70 years , of experience of (ho world and after battling on the land under adverse conditions. The sooner tho institution was designated a college instead of a school the better.—{Laughter and applause.) Mr Anderson wont on to cite instances of the advantage of possessing expert advice in farming. The soil, in part was besoming exhausted, and the farmers would need to introduce new methods Hundreds of pounds had been spent uselessly by some experimenting farmers because they did not have experts to whom to refer their perplexities. In conclusion, Mr Anderson stressed the necessity for straining every nerve to make ‘This college of ours” a success. the farmers had technical information galore available, but they could not interpret it. That was where the department officers came in. . , , ~ On Mr Anderson s motion (tie following motion was then carried by acclamation:— “That this meeting of farmers of Otago and Southland assembled for the purpose of inaugurating tho Otago banner-’ Agricultural College, hereby tender to the Munster of Agriculture, the Dire: lor of the bo-l-iege. and tho various exports who are prepared to give the farmer? (he benofifs accruing from their, research, onr gratitude and sincere thanks for their elforts on onr behalf and for the privilege of getting valuable information which must be conducive to the great improvement, of agriculture. Further, we hone and (rust that the 'beneficial results to agriculture may bo so great that ‘your hopes and anticipations of success may be greatly exceeded.” POTATO DISEASES. The lecturer in the afternoon was Mr G. M. Cunningham, who dealt with “Potato Diseases and Their Control.” The lecture, which was illustrated by lantom slide?, was followed by a discussion on the subject several <•( the large attendance ask'j n£C questions and telling of their experience. . The lecture vvas m two parts--one dealing with the late, or Irish blight, and the other with powdery scab. Mr Cunningham stated that potato-growing was to-day a hazardous occupation unless duo precautions to prevent blight wore taken. A

peculiarity in connection with Irish blight was that one year the crop might bo practically exterminated, while it might be comparatively free in another season, even when planted in the same ground. Aftor describing the appearance of the blight, the lecturer treated of the life history of the fungus. Experiments had proved that the temperature in the field directly influenced the germination of the eonidia. If the temperature was low germination did not occur; if the temperature was high germination was inhibited. It was not the case, that the disease was negligible one season and epidemic the next. It was always present, bill; the conditions favourable to its spread were not. In fairly warm muggy weather the conditions for itsspreud were most favourable, but in a. dry season its effects, were .most slight. A knowledge of these conditions would lead to the segregation of potato culture to those localities whore the conditions were le?s favourable to the appearance of the blight. To his mind tho ideal locality would be Central Ot:igo. On tho question of control, Mr Cunningham said that methods should firstly bo directed towards the elimination of tubers infected by tho organism; secondly, towards the prevention of infection from outside sources; thirdly, towards tho prevention of soil infection. The seed should be selected as enrofully as one would select breeding stock—medium-sized, shapely tubers from platits throwing a majority of large tubers being chosen, frequently during digging. These Avould be saved, and those showinrr signs of blemish or decay would be thrown out. Next they should preferably in trays in a well-ventiluted cool. room until ready for use. Finally, to prevent infection from eonidia produced from any infected tubers that might he used for seed. it. was necessary io spray tho crop frequently with a mixture of lime Bordeaux. In conclusion, Mr Cunningham advised the following principles of control:—- Use clean seed, preferably greened by storage in open boxes: do not plant early and late varieties alongside each other: do not plant, iii soil ttinl previously bore a diseased crop; spray from blossoming onwards with 3-4-50 Bordeaux at monthly intervals; earth plants well up. Dealing with powdery scab,, which had pfobahlv been in New Zea'anrl for many years, Mr Cunningham oniphasispd the importance of using clean seed and of pjanlmtr in soil that, had not previously borne a diseased crop. A factor that, directly influenced the appearance of the disease was the moisture state of the soil, for it. had been found that if tho rainfall in a certain locality wits below an average of 2.5 inches per month the disease did not develop. lie hoped by a series of experiments to discover whether or not certain localities would be free. If the seed was from a locality where the disease was known to exist it was advisable in the .moantime to disinfect before sowing whether or not they showed signs of infection. For this purpose nothing was better than formalin solution —one pint to 40 rrallons of water. Spraying was useless as the disease was a soil one. IRRIGATION IN CENTRAL OTA GO. LECTURE BY .MR TENNENT. When the agricultural instructor for Otago and Southland, Mr' R. B." Tennent, delivered his lecturo on irrigation activities, particularly ns they applied to Otago central, in Burt Hall last night, over 150 people were present, including a, 'number of ladies. , ' In his introductory remarks the chairman. Mr Cockayne,' spoke of the varied rainfall m this country. He stated that Otago was very fortunate in posessing sufficient water to "carry out irrigation. Ancient great Eastern civilisations had been born as tho result of irrigation. Might Central Otago, through irrigation, become the great civilisation of the south, changed from a barren waste ! —(Applause.) The lecture, which was illustrated by a largo number of lantern slides, proved highly interesting, and it doubtless was the, means of conveying -to most of those present a lasting impression of the great, work that is being done in tho way of irrigating the Central. At tho conclusion of the lecture a kinematograph film was shown of the irrigation developments . and their results. This film, despite its being open to improvement in some respects, dealt with the subject in a most interesting form, and its presentation served to reinforce the impression that bad been mado by Mr Tenuent's lecture. Mr Tennent first, dealt with the,necessary part that wafer plays in the life of plants. He also mentioned that an excessive amount of water, waterlogging the ground, shut ! off another essential food—air. But a tremendous quantity of water was required to mature a plant. "Three classes of moisture were recognised in the soil—capillary, gravitational, and hydroscopic. Each class of soil had its own capillary capacity. In coarse sand, for example, only half an inch of water was retained out of every 12in put on it. That being so, it behoved every farmer to build up tho water-holding capacity of his land. This could be done by the introduction of organic mailer. In Central Otago the soil contained only 5.28 par cent, of organic matter, in Southland 10.89 per cent., mid-Canterbury 7.81 per cent., Taranaki 18.51 per cent., Bay of Plenty 17.76 per cent. It was most important that land should have a holding capacity before it was irrigated, but the difficulty in Central Otago could be obviated to n. considerable extent by the ploughing in of any organic matter and by cultivation after the application of water. Central Otago had an average rainfall of under 2Cin, and, unfortunately, the months of the lowest rainfall were also the months of the greatest heat and the greatest winds —the winds woro a curse to the Central. Tt had been estimated that there were. 409,600 acres in the Central that were irrigable, and a total of 52,000 acres were at. present being treated. The main irrigation areas were being financed and controlled by the Government. By means of lantern slides, the lecturer next gave his hearers an idea of the importance attached to irrigation by the Eastern nations, who went to a. great deal of labour in .order to distribute the water over their lands. In contrast with these methods illustrations of somo of tho famous modern water stores were shown; then came photographs of tho Manorburn dam in Central Otngo forming a lake seven miles long and one mile wide at its widest part. Tin's dam held 1,800,000.000 cubic feet of water, and if it was all used it would cover one and a-half million acres of land with 56in of water. After describing some of the implements in use for irrigation work in Central Otago and elsewhere Mr Tennent, dealt with tno various forms of irrigation in use. A form that, had been in use in Central Otago was known as '"the wild flooding method," which meant that volumes of water were spread over ihe paddocks indiscriminately. This might bo injurious to the soil, and was not economical. At tho same time there were certain types of plants and certain classes of land that could be wild flooded with excellent results if the wild flooding was done properly. The method most suitable to tho majority of the land was a border method. This was quite new, but. it had been tried at, Galloway with excellent results. The whole advantage of the modern method was that they were able to ascertain to a teaspoonful how much water they were applying to the land. It was ulso the quickest and most effective method known. Having dealt with several other systems suifoblo to certain conditions, Mr Tennent said that Central Otago wa s a barton uninviting place where growth was at its minimum. But when water was applied (as the lantern testified) the picture changed to one of productivity. On one crop of 50 acres of lucerne that was shown tho owner had, stated Mr Tennent. supported 2500 sheep for eight weeks. Drawing to a close, the lecturer emphasised Ihe importance of proper irrigation. If land was over-irri-gated valuable soluble salts wore lost to the soil, and there was a great danger of alkali forming. It appeared inevitable that, alkali would form in most of the soil that had been irrigated under the old schemes and would eventually lead to their abandonment. Mr Tennent was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks for his lecture. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. There will he a lecture this morning and this evening. In the afternoon a, visit, will he paid to Mr Hellycr's property. Peninsula, when a demonstration will be given in connection with .Tersey cattle.