A HOSPITAL FARM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 15

A HOSPITAL FARM.

It is only a short time ago that the ratepayers viewed with some misgiving the purchase by the -Cook Hospital Board of a farm in a more or less neglected state. Ihe idea of the Hospital Board was to own its own dairy herd and supply milk, vegetables, etc., to the inmates of the local institution. The farm lands, being in more or less a delapidated state, necessitated a good deal of uphill work, and, besides, the initial outlay appeared heavy, and members of the board and the immediate public concerned looked askance at the Purcnase of a purebred bull, the erection of new fences, new piggeries, etc., as they ultimately had to pay the piper. To make a long story short, however, the Cook Hospital Farm, bought in 1820, has by efficient management made money. Last year they made £305. Ihe venture so recently launched has proved a great success _ despite the murmurings of those pessimists who decried Poverty Buy’s “white elephant.” In a sense, it is a white elephant, and a money-maker when farmed wisely. The report of the Farm Committee at the recent board meeting will be read with interest. The report was as follows: “Your Farm Committee herewith submit their quarterly report for the past term. At the time of writing our last report we were experiencing a long spell of particularly dry weather; consequently the dairying outlook was not too bright, and the prospects for winter feed for the stock were not very encouraging. However, during the past three months we have had ample rains, and a record production of grass has put the milk production in a very satisfactory position. The crops have exceeded our expectations, and we have filled our concrete silo with maize, lucerne, etc., which is ihe mainstay for winter milk production. We have also a good allowance of hay in stack, and about six acres of green oats, which give indications of a heavy yield. All the grass paddocks are in good heart. Owing to the early spring, the vegetables did not yield the satisfactory returns we had expected; but considering the drought, and being the first season in operation, we can confidently look forward to this part of ihe farm being a very profitable undertaking. During the recent wet weather we have had ocular demonstration of the necessity of systematic drainage to obtain the best results. The stock are all in good condition, and we have a nice lot of young cattle doming on, and will be able to replace any old or inferior cows with the best heifers as they come in. In the course of a few years we should have an annual surplus of stock to dispose of, and this should be a source of considerable revenue. “For the quarter the results are: Total receipts, £536 14s lOd; total expenditure, £303 12s sd; excess of receipts over expenditure, £233 2s sd. “For the j-ear ending March 31 the returns are: “Total receipts, £lß6l 6s 2d; total expenditure, £1554 17s 9d; excess of receipts over expenditure, £306 8s sd. “These results show a very satisfactory position, and this, it is hoped, will continue to improve as time goes on and a better sole of grass results, and the necessary drainage installed and a superior class of dairy stock produced. Naturally, all these improvements lequire _ time and money. Apart form the financial gain as outlined above, your board has the satisfaction 6f knowing you have an assured supply of farm products under your own control and produced under the best hygienic conditions.”