FARMERS’ COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1931, Page 11

FARMERS’ COMPETITIONS

HIGH QUALITY OKATO ENTRIES.

MR. W. BRIDGEMAN SCORES WELL.

Exceptionally fine quality ensilage was judged yesterday in tho Okato district in the farmers’ competitions, So uniformly good were the leading entries that the judges, Messrs. J. M. Smith and C. Haynes, of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, were set a difficult task to differentiate. A large number of members of the Okato branch of the Farmers’ Union followed the judges despite the unfavourable weather and many points of interest were explained by ‘Mr. Smith. There was no doubt Mr. Bridgeman’s ensilage was outstanding. He had four entries, 3 being in oats, and gained three firsts and a third. The outstanding feature was the quality of the ensilage, which was green and slightly sour, an ensilage state. His stacks and Air. H. T. Paul’s No. 1 stack were proof that green ensilage could be made using oats as the basis . Mr. Bridgeman’s winning stack (odts) and winning earth pit are the best, yet examined in North Tarandki, apart from the fact that Mr. Bridgeman easily wins the points prize for the Okato district. All entries of the branch members showed an, improvement over last year’s. Mr. L. Hickford, president of the Okato branch, thanked the judges for the valuable assistance they were to the farmers of the district. There was no doubt, he said, a great improvement had been effected i>i the ensilage in Okato, especially this year, and some of the stacks were outstanding. Mr. J. M. Smith thought the competitions were of great value to the farming community and that factor was amply proved at Okato where a 50 per cent, improvement had been effected since the first visit. He recalled the field day at Okato last year and informed the members that South Taranaki farmers were still discussing points they had learned, lie congratulated the owners of the winning stacks and said he felt sure one or more championship prizes would .come to Okato. The results are:— Stack Ensilage (Oats).

The judges and visitors were entertained at lunch and afternoon tea at the Hempton hall, Mesdamesi Bridgeman, Paul, Hickford, Larking and Misses Woolridge and Paul being responsible for tho arrangements.

Ji ® >ft r~t (ft s r—n to •r .9 <v , o m fflj .3 s o ctf "© S O o H W. Bridgeman 03 (No. 1) 174 474 14 14 H. T. Paul (No. 1) 174 47 14 14 924 W. Bridgeman 914 (No. 2) 17 47 144 13 H. T. Paul (No. 2) 16J 47 14 13 IM 4 Earth Pits. <£> co 8 eS r—< 2 e$ Z3 3 O' ■© H W. Bridgeman .... 18 n 924 K. Lawn 15 45 264 864 F. Corbett 17 44 ■25 86 G. E. Larking 15 45 251 854 Earth Pits (Oats). F. Ashley •17j 474 134 02J Hillside Stacks. e> jS o ’o S g . Q -L? £ 5 o cn *2 o M O' r? H W. Bridgeman ... 17 464 14 134 M J, IL Hansen .... 16 45 134 .12 864 Stack Ensilage (Grasses) • E. W. Sears 16 45J 13 13 874 A. Roebuck ..... 154 45 13 12 854 J. Putt 15 404 1?J 12 80