SCIENCE AND THE FARMER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 288, 8 May 1914, Page 7

SCIENCE AND THE FARMER

"OUT TO WIN." AN INSTRUCTIVE LECTURE. Under the above title, Mr. J. G. W. Ellis, ilic agricultural instructor to ihe Taranaki Education Board, delivered au interesting and instructive lecture to about forty farmers in the public school at Tariki on Wednesday evening, on scientific farming and modern methods. The lecturer introduced his subject by .remarking that a month ago in South Canterbury he saw a flying machine which 25 years ago was only dreamt of. .In those days men rode high-wheeled bicycles. To-day they are not in existence, but all who can ride motors. These changes are due to the advancement produced by scientific discoveries, and the achievements of science, that are continuous in every sphere. HOW SCIENCE HELrS. Tile man on the land, in whatever department of agriculture he moved and toiled, was also materially aided by scientific knowledge, and if it were true that he was "out to win ! ' he would not seoli' at these achievements or neglect the opportunities to profit therefrom. The grower of cereal crops had been materially aided by the engineer, who was constantly demising and producing new implements to help him in the conquest of the land. The chemist afforded him material assistance too, by .revealing the constitutents of the soil and the growing plant, and demonstrating their relations. The biologist lent his aid by producing newer varieties with absolutely changed characteristics, and more abundant productiveness. The sheep grower was similarly benefited by the labors of the men of science, who came to his aid in the matter of producing suitable breeds for the production of wool of good staple and mutton of prime quality. The scientist also taught him how to class liis wool, so that in the world's marksts he could obtain top price, and built works and make machines, so that the slaughtered carcase were sold thousands of miles away.

THE D/IRYMAN.

So also was the dairyman indebted to the men of science on every side. The chemist who taught him the nature of the compound substance called milk, how to extract in scientific fashion the ingredients and send them out to the world's markets. The mechanic who supplied him with the machines to do it. and the biologist who taught him how to produce and care for the animal that supplied. Here was where the technical college came in—where young and old people were surrounded, by an atmosphere of scientific investigation and trained in the successful practical application of that scientific instruction. Following on this advancement in the application of 'science to the work of farming, aye, in very consequence of the outgrowth of the application of the principles taught by the scientist, came the I modern methods employed by the farmer in his race after the' wealth that nil coveted. CO-OPERATION. The first of the modern methods was co-operation, which was most beautifully illustrated in this province. No longer did the average farmer work on his own. pottering in a tinpot fashion on his own farm and selling his produce to any ! casual purchaser. In the days the farmers combined to turn the produce of their farms into marketable commodities, which they put upon the world's markets.. Thus, also, lie adopted the most modern methods of manufacture. The making of butter 25 years ago was a vastly different process from the making of it to-dev, and the product was vastly .•Mip«rior. Thinks to the separator and nr-ileni churns, and the information sup- v plied by the clicr.ii<t and the bacteriologist regarding component substances, harmful germs, and helnfu! ferments, etc., j etc.. Die farmer turned out a better article and secured a better price.. "Tf he be a wise m:tn," continued the lecturer, "he also considers and adopts modern scientific methods of production and re-production in relation to the herd that supplies the lacteal fluid. Some few years ago many farmers beilieved that almost anything would do, but to-day the old rule of thumb as regards the management of the dairy . herd is rapidly passing out, and it is ceding to be recognised more and more tlif. 1 scientific knowledge is an absolute esfv'Jial to successful dairying. WILL IT PAY? : ki the man who is 'out to win' every proposition must be a paying proposition. Before the worker undertakes a task he stops to ask, will it pay? It is the business of the scientific instructor to illustrate how the modern methods will pay. Thus, for instance, in the matter of growing crops, whether they be cereals, roots, or grasses, the ground will produce unaided by artificial food or stimulants a certain amount, but when the fanner adds manures he finds the crop greatly increased. All the extra yield caused by the added fertiliser must be set against the cost of the manure only and all above that cost is clear gain to the farmer. The same rule applies* to 'first-rate' cows, and those that-are just cows. If the annual cost of a cow- be set down at £7 10s, that represents loOllis of butter fat at Is per lb. Then every lb of fat above that amount puts a shilling into the pocket of the owner." The lecturer then quoted from the X.Z. Yarmer concerning three cows which gave reflectively. SOOIbs, 4501b5, and 5241b5. Those, of course, were the sort of cows is keep. MODERN METHODS. Moreover, the scientist laid down as as axiom that "vou can only get out what you first put in," so that modern methods of feeding \\ero. of as great importance as modern methods of maimj factum. the best cow that was ever born could not do what was required of her i if she were not well fed and cared for. He was pleased to see that the province v.-is awakening to the importance of Rood feeding. He advocated, in iddition In the hay and ensilage, evidences of which lie had already r-een, rn<;f«. eabbag". and ehou nioellier, and insi-!-c.l on the great importance of salt. He concluded by asserting the importance j,f modern methods of cultivation. The mere scrateher of the soil, or the man who did nothing at all. must go. The pasturage must be renewed, and men must recognise the various food values of what they grew—how the plant partook of the. nature of the land upon which it grew, and the product of the animal re-produced the mture of these elements, and accordingly n;< the land was good. the. food was good, the animal and her product, would be good or indifferent. To the man who was "out to win" he would say "seek always the best, because, whether one buys or sells, the best is the cheapest in buying and realises the biggest price when selling."