ENSILACE AT LOWGARTH

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 10

ENSILACE AT LOWGARTH

JUDGING OF THE STACKS. KEEN COMPETITION IN DISTRICT. The keen desire to profit by the example of others led about 20 members of the Lowgarth branch of the Farmers’ Union, as well as several members of the Matapu branch, to accompany Mr, J. W. Palmer, of the Agricultural Department's staff, when he visited the. district to judge the ensilage stacks entered in the competition promoted by the branch, The judging occupied two days, so numerous were the entries. The .lucerne competition was won by Mr. F. Willan and the meadow ensilage by Mr. A. Pryce.' Details of the judging arc: — LUCERNE ENSILAGE.

The party was entertained to morning tea by Mrs. A. Pryce. At the conclusion of the judging the party assembled at the Lowgarth- hall, where afternoon tea was served by Miss Sulzberger, Mr. Sulzberger, junr., and Master Piper,, and over which an interesting discussion ensued, centering about the remarks of the judge, who apologised • for tho absence of Mr. J. M. Smith. •. GOOD FEEDING VALUE. • Air. Palmer stated that over the two days’ judging he had made footnotes to his awards so that all entries were reviewed for marks on the same basis. In the oaten or lucerne stacks points for cover and waste were practically the same for the first three placings and the quality, though differing in colour, was very good, “In fact, if I was a farmer I would regard the possession of any of these stacks as excellent feeding value and a real asset in my operations,” he said. Air. VVillan’s ensilage was sliglit- ■ ly more succulent than Air. Johnson’s but the difference could be represented only by one point. When it was remembered that-the champion stack in North Taranaki last year was allotted 92 points it would be realised how good were the best at Lowgarth scoring 87 points. Delaing with the meadow ensilage Air. Palmer pointed out that the two lowest scoring stacks had reason for their placing, tho one consisting merely of roughage from a paddock and the other having been intended for hay but converted into ensilage after lying two or three days in tho rain. “There has been one general mistake,” went on Air. Palmer, “the material in all cases has been left too long for the best stage of succulent ensilage. Air. Pryce’s stack would perhaps have scored another point or two if the crop had been saved earlier.” In judging one looked for material in a moister state than most of the stacks seen at Lowgarth, where the meadow ensilage was rather too brittle when twisted and squeezed. In this connection he ■ asked those present to compare mentally ' their• .stack with the' winning.entry at the Stratford Show, when they, would be able to visualise the benefit of stacking

early to get a “greener” product. However, nil the stacks visited, had. excellent feeding value and were greatly superior to hay. ■ ENSILAGE VERSUS ROOTS. ■ Questioned regarding the respective merits of ensilage and hay as against root crops Mr. Palmer said it was largely a matter of reducing the risk. Farmers, he said, might be a penny wise and a pound foolish to neglect the chance offered by ensilage making of eliminating the risk of failure in a root crop'that was depended upon for winter fodder. Ensilage was safe, but farmers would be well advised to sacrifice something in weight and get better quality by cutting earlier, say, before Christmas at any rate. It had been a great pleasure to him to have had so many keenly interested followers at the judging, and no doubt all had learned something from the experience. He thanked the ' Lowgarth' branch for the' whole-hearted support given him in judging and in his request ’for roots for .the shows. . Mr. A. T. Sulzberger, president of the Lowgarth branch, thanked. Mr. Palmer for the assistance'he had always rendered the district, riot only in the matter of judging but in many other directions. He was sure the tour of judging had proved beneficial to the party and was. satisfied that they had all learned a lot about making good ensilage. He paid a tribute to Mr. Palmer’s keenness, his good judgment and his never failing courtesy.

As the possibility of instituting a competition for stack hay. had been, mooted Air. Willan. asked how the judging could be arranged' in view of the. fact that stacks were opened at different times,, depending upon the demands of the stock..

Air. Palmer said he had already visited one district three times to judge stacks as they were opened and had yet to make a fourth visit before he could- complete the competition. If necessary he could arrange to do the same at Lowgarth. In any case,, settlers need not worry about getting stacks judged at suitable times, .

In answer to another question Air. Palmer outlined the system of finding provincial championships in North Taranaki and mentioned that he would like to have a similar system in vogue in South Taranaki. “Perhaps,” he said, “some of. the 'stock firms or merchants may care to donate champion cups for the" stack of ensilage and hay gaining most points.” He suggested that branch delegates mention the. matter at the next meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive. He also suggested the holding of field days In different districts. Air. Seed, president ,of the Alatapu branch, mentioned that considering the gradual failure of root crops it seemed obvious that hay and ensilage competitions would shortly replace the older competitions in root crops. “Yes,” said Mr. Palmer, “the future seems to lie’ in hay and ensilage and more especially in ensilage. Shortly cropping will be regarded chiefly, as a means of cleaning up acreages prolific in weeds or land that needs breaking up.” A voice: Pigs won’t eat ensilage. Mr. Palmer: That .is a good point. Where pigs have to be fed a certain amount of roots will probably still be

grown. After further discussion Mr. Willan moved a vote of thanks to members of the Piper and Sulzberger families who had waited upon the needs of the party at luncheon and afternoon tea. This was carried with acclamation, s also were vote of thanks to Mrs. Pryce for supplying morning tea and the ladies who supplied the tables.

6* & o O rn 3 o Ih Maximum points , .., 60 15 25 100 F. Willan ....... .. 57 12 20 89 A. D. Johnson. ... ., 56 12 . 20 88 71. T. Sulzberger ... .. 56 11 20 87 A. T. Burke ..... .. 55 II 19 85 MEADOW ENSILAGE. A, Pryce . 56 11 20 87 A. Sulzberger, No. 2 -54. 12 20 96 S. Laurence ....... . 55 11 18 84 W. Tobeck • ....... . 52 ' 12 19 83 W. Richardson .,.. . 52 1118 81 A. A. Piper ..... . 51 II 19 81 7k. Sulzberger, No. 3 51 11 19 81 F. Willan . 49 11 19 79 A. C. Ricketts .... . . 47 12 19 78 E .Pawson . 49 10 19 78