THE DAIRY, FARM, AND FIELD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 2 June 1900, Page 2

THE DAIRY, FARM, AND FIELD.

" The Farmers are the rounders of civilisation."—Webster, farmers' clubs. Probably no institution is calculated to confer on the farmer greater benefits than a well-managed and strongly supi ported club, whose membership is composed of those interested in agriculture. The special advantages in connection with an organisation of this character are so well-known that, in referring to this subject, it is hardly necessary to inumerate them at length. One condition, however, is essential to success, and that is that a club must have a sufficient number of contributing members to meet the actual outlay incidental to the satisfactory working of the Club. Without this important factor the tax becomes too heavy on those' who do interest themselves in its welfare, and for the lack of that assistance from those who could give it and will not, frequently the officers and committee get disheartened and the club dies a lingering death. In reading the report of the Farmer's Club meeting held on Saturday last, 1 which appeared in the Daily News of Monday, one is compelled to enquire, "Is the Club 1 receiving the support it deserves ?" It has done good work in the past, and is capable of better things in the future. Evidently such an organisation is required and ought to be heartily supported, but judging from present results it is lacking the ope thing needfal. It is unnecessary to use any harsh terms in oharacttrising the apathy and want of interest taken in its proceedings by those who should help it along, but this must be said, — it will be a standing disgrace to the farmers of this district if they allow the present Club to become a thing of the past. The annual subscription is 10s, and for this modest payment you get the advantages of a free reading room, supplied with the most modern and up-to-date literature on- agriculture, together with many of the-leading newspapers published in the colony. Besides which you have a common meeting ground, where questions affecting agricultural interests can be discussed to the mutual advantage of all concerned. Take for an example the questions considered on Saturday. First the " Noxious Weed Bill" upon which we ought to have and shall have legislation; secondly the advisability of the Club being represen'ed at the Agricultural Conference to be held at Wellington next month, when proposed legislation on the above subject and others of a kindred nature will be discussed by representative men from all parts of New Zealand. Are such matters not worth discussing by the Club, and expression of opinions given in reference thereto ? Surely no practical farmer can question the wisdom of doing so, or the benefits that may accrue to the district by having a voice in their final settlements.

CHANGE NEEDED. It is pretty clear that souio steps must be taken to start the Club on a successful career. The question is what is the best thing to do ? How can the benefits of the Club be extended, its influence for good widened, and its role of membership F Winers as a rule do not part kindly with cash, and no doubt the annual subscription bars the way. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that for the small sum of 10s, good value is obtainable from the Club and it ought not to deter farmers from becoming members. It is, however, possible to make the Club a success. Why cannot the Club be amalgamated with the Agricultural Society and let the two be worktd as one ? Surely there-can be no reason why the subscription to the Agricultural Association should not be raised and include membership of both. The advantage would be the Agricultural Society would carry on the functions of the Club, and would always be prominently before the public instead of " bobbing up serenely " once a year in November; and the same Committee who now manage the one could control the other. Another change that is absolutely essential to the success of the Farmer's Club, whether it continues as a distinct body or not, is that it should have its rooms in a more central and easily " comeatable position." The present rooms are central certainly, but to reach them you have to climb a dingy stair-case, and when the top is reached you turn to the left, then to the right, and lastly left again, and there you are, For a club room to be

a success, and to be used, it requires! to be easily accessible; you want to) drop into it from the street quickly and without effort. When this is done with the present Club-room it will be patronised. Another essential to succase is that you must not allow it to be a political club. A farmer's club should be devoid of " colour " and as far as politics are concerned it should be like Ciosar's wife " above suspicion." There is a feeling in the country that underneath the apparently harmless exterior of many a farmer's club, lies hidden the political " clans " of one or other of the political parties. This should be. avoided. SOME SWELL DAIRYMEN. In this district we have not yet reached in dairying the condition of thins indicated by.the following account from America:— Speaking of swell dairymen, a writer in a contemporary gives some interesting particulars of the style in which one or two American millionaires go in for the business. Mr, J. H. Duke, for instance, has a farm of 425 acres, on which he keeps two hundred head of Guernseys and the famous champion bull, Lord Stranford. His dairy produce yields about £SOOO a year.

The magnificent dairy farms of Mr. Twombly, Mr. Vanderbilt's son-in-law, yield their owner a yearly produce of £15,000, and in milk alone over £4OOO. His milk waggons cost.over £240 each, and the £3OO pair of horses that draw each, wear gold-mounted harness. Mr. Levi P, Morton, one of these multi-millionaires, derives a yearly inI come of £6OOO from the sale wf his farm ' produce, and he said to possess the finest barn in the world. It was built [at a cost of over £50,000, and is ehI tirely lighted throughout with electricity. Each cow is chained to her stall, and a printed card above her head records her birth and pedigree, while about 1200 cubic feet of air is allotted to each individually. In case of fire the turning of a crank outside the building will unloose the chain attached to the cow, but a fire is an unknown episode at Ellerslie Farm nowadays, owing to the extreme precaution taken to guard against it. All night there is an attendant in the stable, and five are constantly about with them during che day. The best cow Mr. Morton has is blind. She gave 4000 quarts of milk last year. A fad of this wealthy dairyman is to employ only grey horses on his farm at Ellerslie.

Quite as magnificent in its way is the dairy farm belonging to Mr. Walter Law, at Briar Oliff. It stretches four miles in length, and has a church, school, post office, telegraph, and telephone office in the grounds. The beautiful tiled dairy is 50ft square, and every cow is treated in a most luxurious manner. The attendants are dressed in sterilised suits made of white duck, and one of their duties is to sponge each animal several times during the day, and always comb them before milking. There are more than 600 Jersey cows on the farm, and its owner sends out over 2000 quarts of milk daily, while he derives about .£14,000 a year from its sale. Aqricola.