A Farmer's Notebook WINTER SHOW’S FEATURES

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 18

A Farmer's Notebook WINTER SHOW’S FEATURES

Excellent Quality In Roots BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUB EFFORT FALLING OFF IN ENTRIES OF FAT CATTLE While it is customary for the weather to vary throughout the year, this season changes have occurred at most inopportune periods. During the spring months farmers found it advisable to deal with the preparation of arable land for seed beds based upon methods suitable for dry weather farming. In October a fresh set of circumstances had to be met as good rains came at frequent intervals, and a little later considerable difficulty was experienced in working the land into a good seed bed because of wetness.

In December and January cold weather with strong and very cold gales and generally stormy weather gave growing root crops a grave set back. In fact, at this period many farmers were very doubtful if late-sown crops of swedes, turnips, kale and chou moellier would provide even half a crop for winter

Early-sown crops withstood the battering of the storms much more satisfactorarily and with the advent of fine warm days during the first few months of early autumn, these made a remarkable recovery.

A visit to the winter show provides the best testimony as to the excellent growth of swedes and turnips, which, after all, are the mainstay in the way of roots for winter feeding.

The quality of the entries in the farm root section is most satisfactory indeed and well up to the high standard that Southland soils are expected to produce. A noticeable feature was the comparative absence of diseased bulbs, especially in the way of the brownheart disease.

’ Many exhibits entered in last year’s show were affected by the disease, and it is evident that farmers in general have this season taken precautions to combat the brown heart trouble. The disease can be almost eliminated by the addition of borax to the soil, either sown broadcast or mixed with fertilizer and drilled in. Farmers have much to thank the Department of Agriculture for in providing a reliable remedy in such a short space of time. The judge of the root section, Mr G. Stevenson, Dacre, had a very difficult task in making his awards because of the high quality of most of the entries. The boys’ and girls’ section at the show also provided a good exhibition, particularly the exhibits of garden carrots. It was evident that a great deal of thought had been given to the preparation of the soil as well, as to fertilizing and subsequent cultivation. The experience obtained, by the children in methods of growing plants will be most valuable to them in after life, especially if they settle on the land. The tuition that the boys and girls have had from their school teachers and agricultural instructors has borne good fruit and. the exhibits at the show are a credit to all concerned. Farming operations involve a continual contest with nature, and it is a source of personal satisfaction to many farmers when they are able to produce heavy yields of high quality fodder crops despite any handicaps that providence may impose. The size and quality, of the roots exhibited at the Southland winter sh6w are splendid evidence of the farmer’s ability to produce under adverse conditions. LIVESTOCK SECTIONS The livestock entries present quite a contrast to those of previous years. The most noticeable feature is the almost entire absence of fat cattle. The falling off of fat cattle entries is much to be deplored, especially as an effort is being made to develop a new line of export in the form of baby chilled beef. It is evident that Southland farmers have much leeway to make up before an adequate supply of fat cattle suitable for the new branch of the trade is available. In the past a feature of the stock display has been big entries in the carcass classes for fat lambs and wethers. On this occasion on the opening day these were conspicuous by their absence, and were much missed by the public. There is no doubt that many of the public take great interest in the fat stock display at the winter show and it is to be hoped that the fat cattle and sheep carcass classes will be supported to a greater extent in the future.