SATISFACTORY REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 8

SATISFACTORY REPORT.

i - HOSPITAL DAIRY FARM

LAST YEAR'S (ITERATIONS

Notwithstanding the abnormally adieu,e conuit,uiis existing throughout the uca-son, a very sat..ifaclory report of the year's operations of tlie Cool: Hospital dairy farm was submitted to yesterday's meeting of the Board by tlie chairman of the hum, Air. \Y. J. AlcCliskie. it u.i.s .si a ten that the cows were pi obabiy providing more than any other herd in Gisborne, while the institutions were being supplied with nn’k.and ic-ream at a mini! e.'ieaper rate than that, prevailing in Ihe district.

Tiie report was as follows: ‘•Your farm committee herewith submit their annual report for the year ended March 31. 1926. On .May 1. Ju?6. the new manager, Mr. A. Ji. Marsh, took charge and has been carrying on since that" lime. During the whole ot this period we. have experienced particularly trying weather, hront* Alay to August inclusive we had an abnormally wet season, anil tiie land Was very cold and sloppy, and farm work generally very baeiuvard. From September to the present date we have had a disastrous season for the dairyman, as according to the official returns it has been the driest season on record. Crops have been light and pastures very bare, and dairy cows have suffered severely. AMPLE WINTER FEED.

“It is authoritatively stated that over 2CCO dairy cows have been put through tlie freezing works from this district this season owing to the shortage of feed. Considering "the season we have come out remarkably well.

“We were very fortunate in securing a temporary lease of an adjoining property for a term of six months, and this eased Die grazing situation for a. time. The maize crop for ensilage was light, hut we have about ICO tons of ensilage now in the silo, and in first class condition, while a fair amount of clover, lucerne, and oaten hav is in stack, as well as about 61 tons of baled lucerne in the shed. , . “We are now feeding the cows on hay to keep the milk supply up to requirements. In a normal season we would not commence hay feeding until about June. How our food supply will carry us through depends a great deal upon the weather during the coming winter. "It will require great care and good management by the manager to meet tlie needs' of tlie‘stock and to supply the necessary milk to the institutions until next spring. CONDITIONS’ OF STOCK. “The cows are all ;u fair condition and pvobabiv producing more than any other herd jit the district. The pigs have given satisfactory returns sjnee tho net} - manager has been in charge. The vegetable garden has suffered from the drought”, in common with nil classes of production, but is now in Better heart tlian it has ever been, and only, requires a good soaking io cause it to yield abundantly-

“We are pleased to lie able to report that the cows have been tested for tuberculin by Air. O. Broome, Government veterinarian, and we have* a herd free of tuberculosis. -Six cows remain to be tested later as they were too close to calving when tlie others were attended to. Mr. Broome Mates that lip is wel. satisfied with tiie herd, and they are ah in good healthy condition.

ADVANTAGES OF MILK SIT PLY. “Your committee would draw Jvoui attention to the obvious advantages wt eiijoy by having our own milk supiy, during a season of drought such, as we arc* now experiencing. Another point wt wish to emphasise is the fact that thie hoard had to pay 2/6 per gallon for miU for several winters prior to acquiring tlie farm, and that when there was not a shortage as there is tins season. Up to tfie end of last, month tlie highest prict allowed to the farm for milk was 1/11 per gallon. “We have been carrying put*the, re cpmmendatioiis of Mr. Bruce, Government inspector of hospital farms, to top dres c ; tiie pasture liberally, to increase the carrying capacity, and also manure ail the crops so as to get the grass inu good heart, and nqt to he cutting out the manure and show a large erccLt pa; .since at the end iff the imaix-ial year. We think the .manager has made a gpppshow for’the time lie lias been in charge, and considering tlie adverse weath.er conditions experienced. vve are confident that good returns will he shown for next? year’s work, provided we get hack to normal conditions.”

Some discussion followed a question concerning the testing of cows for tuberculosis, a mot it n of Mr. If. PL De Costa that a report .should lie obtained from Mr. Broome, being carried, despite objections that the proposal meant going over the heads of the farm committee.