Winton EXPERIMENTAL AREA

Southland Times, Issue 23024, 19 October 1936, Page 9

Winton EXPERIMENTAL AREA

THE ANNUAL REPORT The report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Winton Experimental and Demonstration Farm states: — “The 1935-36 season was again rather unfavourable for dairying operations, as was shown by a slight decrease in production, owing to a late spring being followed by dry weather in the summer. This, however, was compensated for to some extent by the grass growth experienced in the autumn and early winter. This season 54991 b of butterfat were actually sold from the 33 cows milked, compared with 6959 lb from 36 cows the previous season. Ten calves were reared and the whole herd was recently tested for tuberculosis, with a negative result from the reaction standpoint. “The ewe flock, consisting of 85 ewes produced 110 lambs, and of these 100 lambs were obtained fat off their mothers. The flock was grazed from lambing till weaning on a paddock of less than 12 acres, and which had been sown in 1931 with certified ryegrass as the basis of the seeds mixture.

“In April it was found that the Aberdeen turnips, which had been sown as a second crop following swedes, were unsafe to feed to the dairy herd, owing to a severe wet rot infection following dry rot. Ninety wethers were purchased to clean up this area, and these were later disposed of, when fat, at a profit. “The committee again wishes to place on record the substantial assistance received from the R. M. MacKinnon Trust, the Department of Agriculture and Mr J. Danskin M.R.C.V.S.” HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. At a meeting of the committee of the Winton and District Horticultural Society, Mr T. N. Mitchell presided. The balance sheet on the recent show disclosed a good credit, the best result for a number of years. The entries totalled 741 as against 718, the

cut flowers section showing a considerable increase. It was stated that a crystal vase, donated and won by Mrs W. Chrystal, had been handed back to the society for competition at the summer show.