COMMENT ON FIELD CLASSES

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 9

COMMENT ON FIELD CLASSES

CREDITABLE ROOT CROP DISPLAY. ■CHILDREN’S ENTRIES EXCELLENT. Commenting on the exhibits of the farmers’ classes, the judge, Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, said yesterday that considered all round the root crop competitions had resulted in a very creditable display to the district. The carrot sections were particularly good and in one class alone there were no fewer than 12 entries, each of which was within striking distance of first place. In the other carrot classes, while the competition was not great the quality of the roots was very good. Among the mangold clas-se. the Yellow Globe class was strongly supported. There again the roots, without exception, were of very fine quality. The Jersey Queen class was also a very good class, the first and second prizewinners being as good as would be seen at any show in New Zealand.

The swedes Mr. Smith considered generally disappointing. Outwardly the classes appeared strong, for there were many entries which looked first-class, but when the exhibits were opened they shows signs of disease, particularly dry rot.

A pleasing feature of the root crop section was the collection of field roots. Their quality was excellent, and great care had been taken in selecting the various roots, the judge said. Among the hay classes the best made hay had to give way to other entries which contained superior grasses. There was a good entry of grass ensilage, and great difficulty was experienced in separating the first three or four entries.

A district court competition comprising the combined products of the farmers in any district drew only one entry, that of the Alangorei district. The competition was organised by the Farmers’ Union. The single entry was a splendid exhibit, Air. Smith considered. It had a range of production that surprised many who knew the class of country in that locality.

Mr. 'Smith also judged the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs field roots. Owing to a re-arrangement of the competitions this resolved itself into a competition between school plots. Consequently the number of entries was much smaller than usual. However, the quality made up, for the small entry, and many of the roots shown were fit to take their place in the farmers ’classes.