More Winter Feed Grown By Mohaka Native Farmers

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19248, 13 February 1937, Page 13

More Winter Feed Grown By Mohaka Native Farmers

AN increase in the amount of winter feed grown reflects one phase of the development of the Mohaka native block and the improvement in farming methods made by the .Maoris who have been allotted holdings.

Over 1000 cows are milked on the 53 dairy units in the block, and the quantity of butterfat is increasing each year, reaching an equivalent of (55* tons to the Waifoa butter factory last season.

Regular topdressing, the replacing of unprofitable cows as n result, of herd testing, and the growing of greater quantities of winter feed arc factors which will provide for a steady increase in production in future years.

Topdressing is being done annually, and 200 tons of* superphosphate was distributed on the block last spring on an average of 2cwt per acre. Annual topdressings of a like amount will lie. continued for at leaM some years.

This Information was given to the writer by "Air. A. G. Nolan, supervisor for the' Mohaka development, block, who said that the pasture was responding well to the treatment. It had a basis of rye and clover, and contained ryegrass, "cocksfoot, Italian rye, white clover, cowgrass, and paspalum, while some subterranean clover was being tried this year. This year's sowings of subterranean clover were prompted by success of small quantities of seed distributed last year, the trial showing very good results. The farmers had been induced now to see the value of saving winter feed, and mangolds and swedes were being cropped in increasing instances, while hay also had been saved. A littl<* ensilage had been made, but there was not very much of this. . Most of the farmers on the bloc"; certainly were making a success of their holdings, and one of tho important works to be undertaken on the block in the near future would bo to see that all were properly housed, and to replace the Public Works Department huts, many of which were deteriorating badly.