MASSEY COLLEGE YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 16

MASSEY COLLEGE YEAR

GOOD PROGRESS RECORDED.

ACTIVITIES reviewed.

“The period under review has seen steady progress in all branches of the college’s activities, although certain lines’of research could have made greater strides had it been possible for the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research to continue its contributions on the original scale,” stated Professor Peren, principal of Massey Agricultural College in his annual report to the college council. “There was an increase in the number of students taking the sheepfarmers’ course which was encouraged in view of the’difficult times through which the country is passing. As regards the sheep farm the latter half of the year was a trving period on account of the abnormally long and wet winter, followed by a very dry spring which baked the o-round badly. The old ewes, especially some of the oldest stud stock, showed the effect of the incessant rain and wet conditions underfoot, but the rest of the stock came through in good condition. The health o* the stock has been very good on the whole, the loss of lambs being very light on account of the dry spring. A certain amount of trouble was experienced last autumn with some of the hoggets. “The improvement of the farm has been continued; further areas have been stumped and broken and an additional 45 acres mole-drained. Since this work was put in hand four years ago the carrying capacity has increased until it is now double what it was when the property was taken over in 1927. The policy of running a breeding flock and mating cull ewes with Southdowns has been continued. This provides the best all-round experience for students, produces suitable material for experiments and enables us to work up a wool clip of reasonable quality. A flock of stud Romney Marsh sheep was established. “The development of the property has been continued, although at a slow rate, on account of the financial position. The quality of the stock has been further improved as the result of careful selection and breeding, but the low prices received for produce have been very discouraging.”

In conclusion Professor Peren states that the moving of the college, superimposed on the normal work, has made the year a difficult one, but owing to the fine spirit which exists the various handicaps have been overcome and the college established, on sound foundations.