FARMERS' COMPETITIONS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 215, 20 August 1931, Page 8

FARMERS' COMPETITIONS

SUCCESSES AT TOKO HIGH STANDARD OF ENTRIES That the farm competitions held under the auspices gf the Toko branch of the Farmers' Union are proving particularly successful is borne out by the excellent results accomplished during the past year. Not only have the entries been very generous, but also, according to the judge, the standard of the crops has compared more than favourably with any other part of Taranaki. This year the Marfell family are well represented in. the prize list. Mr. L. Marfell, the energetic secretary of the Toko branch, was the winner of the competition for the best haystack, and the judge (Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture) has placed Mr. Marfell's entry as the champion stack of North Taranaki, and the winner of the Daily News Cup.

In the swedes section Mr. A. Marfell carried off the honours and Mr. Evan Jones won in the carrots section. In the ensilage competition entries; were of a high standard and here Mr. A. Marfell again emerged victorious, although by only a halfpoint margin. The points prize was won by Mr. L. Marfell.

The occasion of the presentation of the trophies was marked by a grand dance in the Coronation Hall last ?ught, when Mr. T. T. Murray, president of the branch, was in the chair, and extended a welcome in a happy speech, introducing Mr. H. E. Blyde, president of the North Taranald provincial executive of the Farmers' Union. Mr. Blyde, who presented the trophies, paid a tribute to the energy of the Toko branch and the president and secretary. Toko was the pioneer of field competitions in North Taranaki and he congratulated the district upon the interest that had been shown from year to year in the competitions. He went on to make some interesting remarks on the necessity of still further increasing production to offset the lower prices. Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, congratulated the branch on the big array of fine crops and trophies. At the last Stratford'Winter Show Toko won the shield for the district court competition. This trophy was handed over at the conclusion of the field crop prize-giving. Messrs. A. J. Davey, president of the show association, P. T. Hale, secretary, M. Gernhoefer and T. Kirkwood, members of the executive, attended to make the presentation. On behalf of the president, who was suffering from a severe cold, Mr. Kirkwood handed the shield to Mr. Murray. There was no class in the show that occasioned the judges so much concern as the district court displays, said Mr. Smith, who judged the competition. "When 1 tell you that we allotted 1000 points as a maximum and that there were only seven points between the winner and runner-up, you will realise how excellent were the displays," lie said. Winners of the competitions were: Half-Acre Mangolds It. Kingan, 81 tons lGcwt, ISOpts. 1 James Keid, 80 tons 9cwt, 176?; .. 2 Evan Jones, 72 tons llcwt, ■• " One Acre Mangolds James Reid, 74 tons 19cwt, 1651 . 1 W. H. Were, 57 tons 14cwt, 180 .. 2 Quarter-Acre Carrots Evan Jones, 57 tons lGcwt, 182 h . 1 W. IT. Were, 31 tons 2cwt, 75 . . 2 (Won outright by Evan Jones.) Two Acres Swedes A. Marfell, 62 tons 3cwt, 141 1 T. A. Rowe, 46 tons Bcwt, 109 2 ;H. J. Kaye, 39 tons 4cwt, 93* ... 3

Ensilage A. Marfell, 91 points, possible 100 1 G. Harris, 90?; ■• 2 L. Marfell, 90* 2 Hay L. Marfell, 91J, possible 100 .... 1 A. R. Clarridge, 91 f A. Marfell, 90 3 Pasture L. Marfell, 84 points, possible 100 1 J. Weir, 80 J T. A. Rowe, 79 i