FARM CHAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1736, 6 September 1919, Page 2

FARM CHAT.

POTATO VARIETY TESTS. EESULTS AT EANGIOBA. Now that practical agriculture is a, part of tlic syllabus of many of our district High Schools, it is becoming apparent that not only is the experimental and demonstration work of great benefit to the students, but also to farmers and others generally. For tho season 1917-1918 interesting facts in connection with the growing of different varieties of potatoes at the Rangiora District High School were published in this column. Now results are available of potato-growing at this school for last season (1918-1919). This time the work has advanced a stage, the test being carried out partly to demonstrate that thorough cultivation of the ground is profitable, firstly by destroying weeds, secondly by rendering available the natural plant foods of the soil, thirdly by conserving the moisture, aerating the soil and encouraging useful soil bacteria, and, fourthly, toy generally increasing the health of j the crop. It was contended that, while! the judicious use of fertilisers would j ■undoubtedly be followed by an increased I yield, artificial crop-feeding could not take the place of thorough cultivation. Great judgment and experience was needed when using fertilisers which, -without cultivation, were a waste of money, and might cause harm. It is considered that the tests proved thej cultivation theory, besides contributing data as to the most satisfactory varieties to grow in the district. The seed ■was carefully selected from the previv ons season's crop, and was sprouted in open boxes. The plants were planted j in the first week in October, 13in apart, i ■with 2uin between drills, and to a depth of sin. The ground had carried root crops in the previous season. Whilst I it, doubtless, contained a certain amount of residual fertiliser from the previous i crop, no additional fertiliser or manure ■was supplied. The soil was deep sandy I loam over gravel, and was probably | slightly above the average quality land for the district. It was ploughed to a depth of 7in in June, and cultivated! and harrowed twice. The season was , fairly dry, perhaps too dry for the best results, and a severe frost on Novemtoer 8 cut down the plants, which at the time were two to four • inches high. The tnbers were quite free from blight. The results were as follow: ■

In a test a great deal depends on the quality. Concerning this, Beauty of Hebron, Coine-to-Stay, and Princess Begent were classed as doubtful amongst the early varieties; Northern Star and Dakota Red as poor, and Great Seott as doubtful in the second earlies, and "White Elephant and Pink Eye as poor, and White Hebron as doubtful, amongst the late varieties. The Best Varieties. It was considered that the best varieties for the district, as shown by the test, were as follow:—First earlies: Early Kegent (rather a high percentage of small tubers), Snowdrop and Beauty of Hebron (a good yielder, but of doubtful quality), Dalmeny Acme and Vermont Gold Coin. Second earlies: Maori Chief, Sir J. G. Wilson, Up-to-Date, British Queen, Star of New Zealand, and Northern Star (a heavy yielder., but quality not recommended), whilst varieties worth noting were Holdrick's Magnum Bonum, Bree:e's Prolific, and Commonwealth Blue. Late varieties: Sutton's Supreme, Scotia, Grant's Prolific, and Skerry Blue. Freezing Works at Bakaia.

A proposal is on foot in the Bakaia 1 district to erect there a farmers' free/.- ! ing works, to be established in the immediate future. Considerable support has been promised towards the project, and, should it eventuate, many thousands of sheep per annum are assured. With the shingle and sand immediately available, it is considered that the buildings could be constructed at a reasonably cheap rate, whilst there are plenty of water and adequate drainage facilities at hand. In addition, there is the prospect of cheap electrical power. As the question of securing space threatens to remain an acute problem far several seasons, works at Kakaia would certainly relieve anxieties amongst stock-owners in that and surrounding districts. Lambing Mortality. With the comparative absence of feed this winter, speculation has been rife sis to what would be the effect at lambing time. There appears little doubt that the mortality amongst the lambs which is occurring in such districts'as Bangiora is due to the poor nourishment which the ewes have received. Th- lambs in many instances are dying :it rth, owing to a "hard" birth, and otherwise are often small and weedy. Where the ewes have been put on green feed for a while this trouble has not

been encountered. Although lambs are dying under the conditions mentioned, the ewes are surviving.' However, this state of affairs is not general. On Banks Peninsula the lambs appear exceptionally healthy and better than in average years. Inciden- | tally, although very forward sales are I occurring there, several are reported to I have been made at 22/6 and 23/,. But these lambs were from well-known flocks. Cam Dairy Coy., Ltd. Suppliers and shareholders of the Cam Dairy Coy., Ltd., have every reason to be satisfied with the operations of this concern as shown by the third annual report and balance-sheet just issued. Suppliers have been paid at the rate of 1/6 per lb for butter-fat for the season, and it is proposed to pay them a bonus of 3Jd per lb, making 1/9J for the year. This is a record for the company and must be well above the average return which most cheese factories will be paying. As to operations, the output of cheese for the year has been 162 tons llcwt, which is an increase of 17 tons 2cwt over the previous year. An extra vat was procured during the season and several ' improvements made and contemplated. The profit and loss account shows a profit of £2750 17/5 on the year's working, and the suppliers' capital reserve account has been supplemented by £667 5/7, making the total paid-up capital £1502 19/2. Three thousand £1 shares have been issued for this amount, in the proportion of 682 fully paid-up, and 2318 at 7/1 paid-up each. It is proposed to pay a dividend of £2B on the fully paid-up capital. After making other payments, the sum of £465 7/3 remains to be carried forward, a sum which compares -extremely favourably with the credit balance carried forward from the previous vear, £l3l 12/10. The Little Eivor Traill. Over five hours from Little River to Addington! That is the time which it has lately taken the Railway Department to deliver cattle between these two stations for the ■ purpose of the weekly metropolitan market. The train leaves Little River at 7 a.m. on Wednesdays. At the last three sales it has terminated its journey between noon and 12.30 p.m. The position would simply be ridiculous if it did not cause actual hardship. As it is, the late arrivals on each occasion have disorganised the market, causing values to "sag" much below their legitimate level. As au instance—on Wednesday, the fat cattle sale commenced with about 250 head. At 12.30 p.m., the number was suddenly swelled to 374. This was unfair to those butchers who had made their purchases under a strong competition, because the supply was .presumed to be short; it was also unfair to those graziers whose cattle came in at the tail end of the sale, and whose beasts thus faced a slump. And if the present position continues it will mean that butchers will refrain from keen competition, holding back their main purchases until later in the day. It is unnecessary to point out the hardship which will thus be occasioned to farmers generally. Farmers' Market Day. Whilst on the subject of the Adding-; ton market, it certainly seems an unfortunate thing that the Farmers' Union anil a number of kindred bodies choose to hold their meetings in Christchureh on a Wednesday. Members are thus able to spend an hour or so at the big stock sale before they hurry away to their meetings. But this practice robs the market of competition, and the farmers themselves of the chance to 'study-conditions and presumably profit thereby. Discussing this matter, a wellknown stock agent pointed out that it would be much more desirable to select Friday as the day for meetings. This would mean that the land, horse and other auction sales in the city, instead of being held on Saturday morning—an actual inconvenience to all concerned — would be held "on Friday. Then, if the farmer desired later to make purchases, he could avail himself of the late shopping night in the town. .

Yield in ton s per Variety. acre. Table. Pig. Seed Early Var ieties. Early Regent .. .. .. 7.28 2.35 5.57 .. 8.07 1.85 5.00 Beauty of Hebron .. .. 9.28 2.00 3.14 Dalmeny Acme .. .. .. fl.71 2.11 5.00 Come-to-Stay .. .. , .. 7.58 1.71 3.00 Vermont Gold Coin .. , .. 4.5 1.57 4.85 .. 5.21 1.9 3.89 Robin Adair .. .. , .. 5.71 1.9 3.14 .. 5.14 2.00 3.57 .. 5.35 1.00 3.92 .. 5.35 1.42 3.28 Dickens' Round Seedlir ig 5.27 0.71 3.27 Princess Regent .. 4.01 0.88 2.07 Princess Victoria .. . .. 2.14 0.83 2.00 Second Early Varictio; 1. Maori Chief .. 10.59 2.87 5.78 Northern Star ,. 9.5 2.23 «.71 Sir J. G. Wilson .. , .. 9.8 1.43 li.42 ,. 11.3 1.21 4.57 British Queen .. .. , ,. 10.00 1.27 G.42 Star of New Zealand ,. 8.14 2.14 4.57 Breeze's Proliilc .. . .. 9.57 1.57 3.42 Hillside Hero ,. 7.04 J.86 4.42 .. 8.00 1.54 4.27 White Rock .. 8.00 1.02 3.42 Magnum Bonuni .. . ,. 8.27 1.14 3.11 Golden Wonder .. , ,. 4.85 1.57 5 25 Commonwealth Rlue ,f 7.5 0.71 3.71 Early Puritan .. 7.00 1.4 3.14 Regent Elder ,. 5.00 2.27 4.00 ,. 5.71 o!r,7 1.28 Arran Chief ,. <i.07 0.85 3.12 Dakota Red .. .. .. 0.57 1.0 2.71 His Majesty .. 4.42 0.5 1.71 Great Scott .. 2.11 0.85 3.00 Late Varieties. White Elephant .. .. 12.71 1.00 3.14 Piuk Eye .. 11.4 1.14 3.71 Sutton's Supreme .. , .. 9.42 1.57 4.71 ,. 8.35 1.57 3.71 .. 6.78 1.21 4.42 White Hebron .. .. , .. 7.5 1.14 3.28 Grant's Prolific -.. , .. 8.14 0.71' 2.71 Skerry Blue .. 4.42 1.88 4.00 .. C.21 0.57 2.71 .. .2.0.1 1.28 4.00 Average .. \. . .. 7.00 1A 3.7