EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 11, 29 August 1911, Page 5

EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE.

At a meeting of the Eltham branch of the Farmers' Union on Saturday a letter was received from Mr. G. S. Bayliss, Field Instructor, Department of Agriculture, in which ho said he would be glad to know if tiio branch intended undertaking any experimental work this season. The usual practice is to elect a small committee of LJfoui' or five members, who take a real in such work. For co-opera-tive experiments tho Department supplied tno scheme, seeds and manures landed free at nearest railway station, the farmer carried out tho work according to instructions, and the crop T-|was his own property. The areas tho crops were limited to J of an acre in forage crops. Naturally the Department was anxious that the branch should select for experiments men who would do their level best to carry out tho details of the scheme in a workmanlike manner. Mr. Bayliss trusted that Eltham would take an active part in tho experiments this season. Ho had visited Rivorlea and had arranged for a number of experiments Lto be carried out in that district. He advised Eltham. to experiment in varieties of maize, varieties of mangolds, lucerne, kale, and mixed forage crops, and above all, in cultural experiments dealing with tho deepening of tho cultivated area of top soil. He woidd point out that the Taranaki district measures the depth of its soil in feet instead of in inches, which is what many other parts of New Zealand were compelled to measure it in. Yet Taranaki was only making use of the first five or six inches of its soil. Ly- 1 ing beneath the cultivated farms today were acres and acres imuscd and capable of largelv increasing the output from Taranaki lauds if a method was arrived at for bringing same into use. He would suggest that the branch make a start in experiments with this object in view this season, .and continue in the following seasons (Kjuntil the object sought was attained. He woyld, therefore, suggest for con;v sideration, among others, oxperiv ments in green manuring, sub-soil Be stirring, and sub-soil manuring. He | would be glad to meet by arrangement a special committee set up by the branch. , A discussion,"in which Messrs. J. Best, S. Dawson, A. Coplestonc, J. Swindlohurst, and the Chairman took part, on the cost of working the subsoil followed, members being generally, of opinion that it was costly. It was resolved that Mr. Bayliss be asked to give a lecture to farmers or some Thursday evening soon, and that members endeavour to got a good attendance of farmers. Mr. Sergei reported on having sent the result of his last year’s experiments to-Mr. Bayliss, who is to have tjiem typed and sent on to tho branch.