THE JUDGES' AWARDS

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 14

THE JUDGES' AWARDS

wayß thau the oilier competitors, and displays great ability aud energy in carrying on his operations. We think he deserves somr> special re3ognicion in addition to the prize effered for Hrcoud plic?, where we are obliged to place I hirei. i We desire through yoa to thank the com- j petitora for the hospitality, kindness, and \ courtesy shown to us during our inspection, and also ior the frank and ready manner in which ' they g*va us any information we r< quired. Donald Bokbie. David JVl'Millak. 12th April, 1897. The following tablo shows the number of points awarded in hoth competitions — one for ! farms from 1 to 400 acre?, and thft other for | farms from 400 to 1500 acres :—: — j

3sSS2/S— sS re ~- a.r re - 3 3 5 5 -> jq p S,? g 0 £,s £^ s*o Op « B N 7-' Is, 1 : g: &: : ; : CD o : : p : n : : : :

The following report was received from the judges in conaecbiou with the best managed farm competition : — To the President of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association. We have no* the pleasure of handing you our report of the inspection of fanno entered for the piiz*s offered by your association for the besb managed farm, and in doing bo wo beg to express onr regret at being unable, to have ths inspection made earlier in the season. We think it would have been more satisfactory both lo ourselves and to the competitors to have had two inspections, one of which should ba done in December and tho other in April ; aud to this cud we would suggest; that the entries should clo3e at least a month earlier than they did this 1 year, as we fail to se9 any reanon why fanners could not enter for this competition in November as well as in Jauusry. We are surprised this coropslifcion is not taken advantage of to a greater degree than has been done this year, as for both classes there are only eight entries (three for the large and five for the small farms), and we hope that in future there will be an increased number of competiio'S from the many well-managed farms in Oongo aud Southland, ao that the laudable efforts of your association to improve farming generally will meet with a still greater measure of Rucce3B. We herewith attach a tabulated statement of points awarded under tbe diiSerenlheadings Bupplied to us, and we may state that we experienced considerable difficulty in some cases in arriving at our decision owing to the closeness of competition, and to the fact that scarcely any two of the farms inspected were managed on the same lines. We are pleased to be able to state that all the farms inspected show signs of "careful cultivation and mauagemenl in their respective methods of farming, which is very creditable to the owners. As to the " general and profitable mauage- J ment of ths farms,' 1 the answer to that question is somewhat difficult to arrive at, for as a rule farmers are not good bookkeepers, and we would like to point out the great advantage and satisfaction to the farmer if at the cud of every year he knew exactly what ha had either lost or gained during the year ; it would alao enable I the judges to award the proper number of points for profitable management. We mighfc also suggest that a tracing or plan of the farm (which is seldom kept by farmers) would be found very useful, giving all the padriouks, their aree, tho length of fences, aud open drains. In the large farm competition Messrs John Reid and Sons aud the executors of the late W. Scoular are somewhat handicapped by being in company with Mr Patrick's Taiori farm, which gains first place. For second place the competition is very close, both farms being well managed. Messrs Reid have improved their farm very much daring the past year. •In the email farm competition our greatest difficulty was to aisign the position of Mr G. H. Gilroyand Mr Walter Blackie. Mr Gilroy'a crops are excellent; and the lind remarkably free from weeds (though in tho midst of a weed-infected district) ; his buildings, fences, and gate 3 are all that could be desired, and hi 3 management generally shows great perseverance, judgment, and ability, ao that the points awarded under the different headings place him in the fitsfc position. Mr Blackie, aa an all round farmer, is difficult to beat. He farms in » greater variety of

o;o:o:S:toonf*rf^>tMnximum Points. MWW*»WOC3wO Trtieri, 200 -tcres. W."S..utet, Flaa Swamp, 272 an>s HACn-^UtOWOOC O |2 K>*.#.CJ1 I <IWOC:CC| .. __l W. iiUckie, Ityal Bush, 28") *cr.2s. l_i l—l1 — 11:—i1 1:—i1 — ■ : — i 10 tn oi en •^ to w <^ 5D W. Barkie, liast 'J'aiou, 210 acrpp. o t<o XJI Ut CSi 00 ►— ' C*s »—^ O G. H. Gilioj', Stirling, : 45 acres. M H*.il>.aNjKsOS! © O ax o > o i-i Executor? late William Similar, Wrichl\ BuOi, IO'I2 acres. to to it* Wit* o: to etc Mi John Jleul ana JSOHB, Wri«rhf h Bush, 9">S acrps. I W. Patrick, Outran), 414 acres.