PRODUCTION DOUBLED

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 22 (Supplement)

PRODUCTION DOUBLED

RESULT OF INTENSIVE FARMING.

OKATO FARMER’S EXPERIENCE.

(By

“Tainui.”)

Another instance of what can be done by the introduction of modem farming methods is given by the experience of Mr. W. J. Larking, of Hempton Road, Okato, who in 12 years since he first took up his property of 100 acres has raised his production from 80001 b. of butter-fat to just over 16,0001 b. of fat. When he first took up the property he was milking. 40 cows. Now he is milking 50 cows, and has wintered 70 head of stock.

He has bought 10 cows in the past 10 years, having reared all his own for replacement purposes. He has been herd testing for six years, and this year his test started at 4.5 and went up to 5.9, During the 20 years that he has been farming he lias kept a complete record of every calf that he has reared, every cow that he has sold and what it realised. He has sown 20 acres of new grass every year, until he had the whole farm renewed, his biggest enemy having been ratstail. The first year he used 20 tons of guano at the rate of 4cwt. to the acre, and subsequently used basic super. Latterly he has top-dressed with bonedust, lime and super. He does not use basic slag, as his experience has been that on beach country slag brings up the trefoil but after Christmas there is a shortage of feed. He has subdivided the property into 14 paddocks, all of which are well watered, and has also planted hedges for shelter. At the same time his brother went on to the adjoining section, both having taken up a farm and subdivided it, and the brother has done equally as well. In fact Mr. Larking considered that the whole district had gone ahead wonderfully, as was disclosed by the ‘ factory returns.