OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 7

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL A ND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the committee of th« Oiago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at the secretary's office on the 21st; Mr Jaineß Shiel, vice-president, in the chair. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called to di?cuss several matters in connection with the forthcoming winter show, and also to consider some applications received for spacs for exhib lion. After some discussion ib was decided, ou the motion of Mr Pa'tullo, that all exhibits muft be subject to tho approval of the committee betore acceptance, and that an advertisement bs inserted in the papers notifying that applications received up to the 15:h May would be considered and allotted accordingly ; applications received after that date to be ballotted for and granted provided there were sufficient space available. Mr Robert Campbell, St. Clair, wrote off firing £5 as special prizes in. five classes in the bread-BCOBes section ; and a silver butter-cooler was offered by a few lady supporters for the best -collection of fancy butter, mide up and ready for use at any ordinary dinner table. 'The secretary was instructed to thank tho donors for their generosity, and -add the exSrR classes to the catalogue. A sub-committee was appointed to inspect the ball and procure a plan showing the estimated amount of space ' available for exhibition of goods in the various halls. It was decided to set apart a large room to be used as a tea room, and that tenders be c»Ued for the right of supplying light refreshments during the show dates. Judges were appointed for the various I sections, class stewards appointed, and several details relating to the show were discussed and considered.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Ofcago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at the secretary's office on Saturday, and attended by Messrs James Smith (president in the chair), Thomas Brydone, W. Patrick, M. Sinclair, G. Roberts, H. V. Fulton, W. Chatters, W. H. Taggaib, A. C. Stronach,

A. Mafchewson, F. Oldham, J. Lethbridge, J. Duthie, J. Wright, R. Campbell, W. Blackis, ' J. Shiel, A. Todd, and Hon. Thoma3 Fergus. I Apologies were received from Messrs A. S. Orball and C. S. Reid. j After disposing of a large amount of correspondence, a letter was read from Mr J. O. i Ritchie, Secretary of the Agricultural department, in reference to the appointmeut of dairy instructors as judges at the forthcoming show. It was decided to agree with the suggestion contained iv Mr Ritchie's letter, a.nd the secre- ; tary was instructed to communicate with him j as to the appointment. ' The National Mortgage and Agency Company, as agent 3 for Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, wrote enclosing a cheque covering the amount of freight paid on a show case received ex Pakeha.—A vote of thanks was accorded to the company for remitting amount of freight. It was decided to offer a special prize of £3 3a (in addition to the first prize ot £3) for tha besb collection of farm and dairy produce ! exhibited by any farmer. i On the motion of the Cir.viiuiAN, the sub1 committee's report for the wiuter «how was confirmed, and tho gentlemen nominated to act ' as judges were approved, and it was decided to make the necessary alterations and additions to the schedule now issued ?o as to include gome extra classes recommended. The Secretary reported that he had received Messrs D. M'Millan and D. Borrie's report and awards for the best managed farm competition. For the Urge farm Mr William Patrick was pkcad first, aud tor the farms from 100 to 409 acres Mr G. 11. Gilroy was again successful. (The judges' report aud awards appear elsewhere in this issue.) The Chairman congratulated Mr Tah\ck on obtaiuing the honour of being placed first for the best managed farm. He had hoped that there would have bsen more competitors, and trusted that next year there would bo a largo iccuaase in that direction, and that f.he present holder and campetitors would not only go on improving their tanns, bub attain to a higher standard, and if possible obtain the maximum number of points. He (the chairman) regretted tbat Mr G. IJ. Gilroy w»b not present, as he was now the fortuuate owner of frir John Benuet Lawes'o valuable shield, having been successful in obtaining first awards for three years, an honour ail farmers might ba justly proud off. Mr Patrick, in replying, orated that when he entered bi* farm he had no expectation of being placed first, bat considered that such and similar competitions should be encouraged and supported. He was surprised that there were so few farms entered, and in his opinion it would certainly pay ac.y farmer to have his stock aud farm inspected by component judges, and bid points in the manugemeut pointed out. He hoped that nsxb year there would be a larg«3 increase in the number of competitors, both in the farms over 400 acres, and also under that area, and he wonld endeavour feo retain the honour ol boldiog the shield for another year. Mr tfiNCLAitt proposed that a vote of thanks should be accorded to the judges, and in doing so stated that hb had this pleasure of being presenb when the farms in tho Taieri district wero , being mspecbed, and he did not thirik it possible to obtain two gentlemen who would be more careful in their inspection and particular iv obtaining the necessary information to enable them to make their awards. He had much pleasure in moving that a special voteofshaakq be accorded to Messrs D. M'Millan and D. Borrie | for tbeir trouble and cime devoted in inspecting ; the various farms entered for competition, and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded i;o each of the judges. The motion was seconded by Mr Gkohge i Roberts and carried unanimously. { Judges were nominated for the beat field turnip compatibiocs, and .it was decided thab entries should close at tbe end of the present month, and that the fields be inspected early in May. i The Chairman stated thal; a very handsome j framed painting o? the homestead and steading ; on lnveresk farm had been received that moruj ing from the proprietor, Mr G H. Gilroy, for the new committee roJtns. The painting was muoh admired, and the secretary was instructed I o convey a votß of thanks to Mr Gilroy for his generosity.

Digestibiiity of Foddeb.—From recent experiments, the Illinois Experimental Station concludes as follows t—The composition of cowpea ensilage corresponds very closely with thab ! of clover hay, the important difference being in ! the higher percentage of fat found in the clover, I but the digestibility of the cowpea ensilage is so much greater that it furnishes an equal amount of fab and much more protein and tobal 1 energy bhan the clover hay. Soja bean ensilage resembles clover hay both in composition and j digestibility. It furnishes an equal amount of protein, more fat, bub less total .energy than clover hay. Both of these leguminous forage plants draw upon the fres nitrogen of the air in an indirect way for a part of their food supply : their composition shows a high percentage of nibrogen, and they have greab value for improving the soil. Maize fodder and maiz3 ensilage have about the same digestibility for total dry matter, and furnish equal amounts of energy. j The fodder furnishes more digesbibile carbo- ! hydrate extract, but the ensilngo slightly more j of the other nutrients. As compared with cow- | peas and soja bean I*,l*, the maize fodder and maize ensilage have much higher value for energy or fat production, but the cawpea-en-silage and the soja bean ensilage are more valn- ■ able for animal growth or the production of milk.

i —.——~»—■— Nimmo and Blair's "Standard" Seeds for present sowing. We will be pleased to send j samples of all agricultural seeds to any address in the colonies. "Standard" Seeds are always reliable. Ounedin.—Advfe.