HELPING THE FARMER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3769, 8 June 1926, Page 26

HELPING THE FARMER.

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION. About 60 farmers and others interested in agriculture and arboriculture assembled at Logan Park on Thursday, and spent a pleasant and profitable morning around the plots established by the Department of Agriculture in connection with the Exhibition. These plots, which number nearly 200, bear siLnt but striking testimony to the immense amount of work done by the Department of Agriculture and the Forestry Department in the interests of farmers in particular and the community in general. One has only to study them in order to gain a great amount of information as to what should be done and what should not be done under certain conditions. The value of the visit was enhanced by the presence of Mr R. B. Tennent (Instructor in Agriculture) and Mr R. B. Steel (Fores’, y Department), who delivered brief addresses on matters relating to their respective departments. These officials may be safely described as enthusiasts as well as experts in their own branches, and what they had to say was listened to with keen attention by all present. In the course of his remarks, Mr Tennent referred to the principal crops; and explained the conditions necessary to enable them to be grown to the best advantage, and also tl.alt with the management of pastures. He mentioned several supplementary crops that were of great value to farmers, especially v. i the grass started to go off. The growing popularity of lucerne was touched upon, and in this connectioa Mr Tennent stated that, generally speaking, lucerne growing was not a success in the southern part of the province, because the weed growth wa* too strong. The speaker touched on disease in potatoes, and mentioned several districts where it was prevalent. He emphasised the importance of procuring seed from a clean district, so as to avoid the risk of introducing disease into areas that were at present free from it. The importance of water and air in cropgrowing was pointed out, and the evil results following an over-supply of moisture were also demonstrated. The best methods in connection with manuring

and coping with the growth of weeds were referred to, and in conclusion Mr Tennent stated that the plots were established solely for the purpose ol demonstrating what could be done and what was being done. The department would be glad if those interested would take full advantage of the opportunity of inspecting the plots, and its officers would be delighted to give all the advice they could to assist the farmers in tl*e solution of the many problems with which they were faced. At the conclusion of Mr Tennent’s remarks, Mr Steel addressed the gathering on the operations of the Forestry. Department, and emphasised the importance of tree-growing. He mentioned that the department considered that every farm should have nearly 10 per cent, of its area devoted to the growing of trees in order to get the fullest production. He pointed out the value of trees for the purposes of shelter and beautification of the home, and also for the protection of stock. Where tree* were available for shelter, stock would require less feed to keep them in good condition, and at times heavy losses would be avoided. When a cold snap occurred after shearing, the losses of sheep sometimes ran into thousands of ponnds, which would not be the case if farmers had the foresight to provide shelter. In waste corners, which could not be cultivated and where weeds were troublesome, trees could be grown very profitably, as they would smother out all th- weeds if they were planted thickly enough, and in addition would provide valuable timber in years to come. Mr Steel proceeded to deal specifically with different varieties of trees, explaining their strong points and their weaknesses, the localities for which they were best suited, and their value from timber and shelter points of view. At the conclusion of the addresses Mr Tennent and Mr Steel were accorded the hearty thanks of those present for the valuable information they had given. Another series of demonstrations will l*e given at Logan Park this morning.