SCIENTIFIC DAIRYING

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 9

SCIENTIFIC DAIRYING

EXPANSION LEAGUE LECTURES. The most forceful factor disclosed by the teaching of modern agricultural science is that every farmer must be an experimentalist. lie must study for himself his climate, his soil, and breed of stock, and grow crops best adapted to those if he would succeed. 'this is particularly the case in Otago, and, firmly believing in this adage, the Country Development Committee of the Otago Expansion League has arranged a series of lectures to he delivered in the principal dairying centres of the province, enabling dairy farmers to learn all that there is to be done so that they may commence their new era thoroughly posted up in what is required to spell success. The ideas of the League’s Committee met with the cordial approval of Dr Reakes, the Director-general of Agriculture, and, thanks to his ready assistance, two officers of this department (Messrs R. B. Tennent and A. C. Ross) have been deputed to deliver the series of lectures arranged. These addresses will deal with such topics as the laying down of pastures, the culture of lucerne, the use of fertilisers, the advantages of supplementary crops, the best methods of improving the herd, and the increase of milk production. The lectures will be illustrated by a series of lantern slides showing forth the advantages of scientific culture and the application of the best methods to the growing and sowing ot fodder. It has been the reproach of Otago that it is the lowest of ali the provinces in the ratio of milk production per head, and vet private enterprise has shown that the cow holding the liighest record in the dominion has been located in Otago for the pinst eight years. This being so, it is hoped that the application cf scientific methods to the other dairy farms may bring them up to a corresponding high production. The lecturers deal with this and other matters of the liighest interest to dairy farmers, and all who desire to better their position as milk producers should attend and hear. The opening lecture will be delivered in the Coronation Ilall. Mosgii 1, on June 13 at 8 p.m., and will be repeated at Momona the following evening. Arrangements are being made for visit.-, to tlie other centres during June and July. It is of the utmost importance that all farmers should know that the sen ices of the experts of the Agricultural Department are at their disposal. »Should any one in-tere-fed require advice on agricultural or dairying matter this can h > obtained free by ( onirnuni sting with Mr R. B. Tennent or Mr A. ( Ross, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin. If any farmer desires it the specialists will visit his farm and give practical advice on matters pertaining to farm practice. The Otago Expansion League trusts that their efforts in ties direction will be taken full advantage of by the dairy farmers of tbo province.