FARMERS' COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 10

FARMERS' COMPETITIONS

HAY AND SILAGE CONTESTS NORTH TARANAKI SUMMARIES. TOTAL ENTRIES IN CLASSES 351. LARGEST SINCE TESTS BEGAN. The final returns of the farmers’ field competitions for hay and silage in North Taranaki have been issued by Mr. J. M. Smith, Department of Agriculture, on behalf of the joint committee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society and the Farmers’ Union. The total number of entries in these classes was the largest in the history of the competitions, there being 351, made up as follow: Stack silage (grass) 103, stack silage (any othei- variety) 7, stack silage (hillside) 18, concrete pit silage 17, earth pit silage 56, hay 150. The increase, says the report, indicated the value put on the competitions by farmers throughout the district. As a practical means of gaining experience and of avoiding the mistakes that had been made by others the competitions in the classes did a great work.

Ninety-six per cent, of the silage made in Taranaki this season was from pastures, the remaining 4 per cent, being chiefly oats and millet, according to the report. Very few special crops were grown for the express purpose of making them into silage, but these crops were being employed mainly in the preparation of the ground for permanent pasture, and as a matter of convenience for feeding they were saved as silage. As the area in first class permanent pasture in Taranaki increased, so would the quantity of silage made from special crops decrease. Farmers generally recognised that one of the present weaknesses in their pasture management was in the comparatively poor utilisation of the peak pasture growth, and there was little doubt that the making of silage was a farming operation that lent itself to the better utilisation of surplus grass. The quality of the raw material governed to a large extent the quality of the resultant silage, for it was impossible to make a high-class silage from an inferior pasture. The points allotted for raw material (20) did not truly indicate the influence that the raw material had on the silage, but it must be remembered that the competitions in these classes were for silage and mot for pastures, so that to place the proper proportion of points on raw material would unduly favour those farmers with first-class pastures. At the same time the competitions should encourage the making of some of the best growth on the farm into silage, and not follow the practice that was in vogue in some districts of making all of the first class pasttire into hay and making silage only from the inferior pasture and weed growth. Such silage could not be expected to give satisfactory results, particularly with regard to milking stock. STACK ENSILAGE. In stack silage, of the 103 entries judged 47 gained over 90 pointe. The Fertiliser Co.’s Cup for this class was won by Mr. H. Jones, Kaimata. This stack was made from a 16-year-old pasture composed chiefly of paspalum at the time of cutting on January 26. This paddock was not shut up until December so that the short quick growth of the paspalum together with a certain amount of clover that was present constituted a very fine leafy raw material which was saved in a splendid manner. The stack was a round one being 21 feet in diameter and eight feet high. It was put in during three consecutive days, the material being cut twice daily. It was interesting to note that the weather was showery at the time, the men working in overcoats for a considerable part of the time, and this fact, together with the sappy nature of the young paspalum clover mixture, was no doubt largely responsible for the splendid quality of the silage and the small amount of waste. The soil was put on straight away and was 14 inches in depth, while it was held in place by manure bags. Six other competitors scored 941 points for second place, indicating the closeness of the competition in this class. Mr. W. J. Bridgeman, Okato, had a stack from pasture nine years old cut on November 25 and harvested in three consecutive days, 18 inches of soil being put on straight away. The material from a three-year-old pasture of Clemow Bros., Cardiff, was harvested in six consecutive days during showery weather, and one foot of soil put on straight away, being held out with netting. In the case of Mr. A. N. Mills, Cardiff, an eight-year-old pasture was cut on December 20 and harvested in four days with one day missed on account of wet weather. Eighteen inches of soil was put on straight away and was held on by poles. Mr. J. Kilsby, Tariki, cut on January 30 and harvested in three consecutive days from a five-year-old pasture. A foot of Soil was put On straight away, and was held Out with rushes, butts out. Mr. R. B. Sutton, Inglewood, harvested on November 23, putting the material in during four consecutive days, while 15 inches of soil put on straight away was held out by sods. At Uruti Mr. D. S. Musker harvested a 20-year*old pasture, commencing to cut on February 8. It was harvested in four consecutive days, while One foot of soil Was put on straight away and held with netting. DATES OF CUTTING. It was interesting to note the dates of cutting of these various entries,- which were: November 20, 23 and 25, December 20, January 26 and 30, and February 8. This indicated that the season of the year had relatively little to do with the quality of the silage, but the stage - at which the crop was cut was the determining factor. The term early cutting conveyed to some the impression that the material should be cut early in the season, but early cutting really meant comparatively early in the stage of growth of the crop The stack ensilage (other than grass) class was won by Mr. H. T. Paul, Okato, whose stack scored 97, the highest points yet awarded in the competitions. The crop was oats and was cut with the binder on January 3 and 4 and the sheaf stack built in the same manner as a grain stack. The stack was 32 feet in diameter and seven feet high. The material was harvested in three consecutive days and as the Weather Was hot and drying the sheaves were stacked in heaps in the paddock to prevent too much wilting. Two feet of soil was put on straight away and this was held out by Short logs. Mrs. Ashley, Okato, was second in the class with a stack Very similar to Mr. Paul’s, only the quality and covering being very slightly inferior to the winning stack.

The Blyde Bros. Cup for the hillside stack ensilage class was won by Mr. W. Summers, Tariki, the same competitor being runnef-up in the class last season. The crop of grass was from a paddock three years old and a start was made with harvesting on December 1. Fourteen days were occupied in harvesting with odd days missed, while the soil was put on straight away. The competition in the concrete pit silage class was exceptionally keen and

the high standard of points indicated the fine art that those competitors saving silage by this xneans had brought this to. Mr. P. A. Openshaw, Lepperton, won the Bell Cup with a total of 96$ points, while Mr. G. H. Bell, Oakura, and Mr. E. C. Locke, Hillsborough, each scored 96J points.

The earth pit silage class also saw very keen competition, there being more entries than usual. Mr. J. H. Paulger, Tikorangi, won the Clements Cup awarded for earth pit silage with a total of 96 points, while Mr. E. Mahon, Tariki, scored 95J points and Messrs. G. B. Knowles, Tariki, D. S. Musker, Uruti, and F. Bracegirdle, Kaimata, each received 95 points. Hay was a particularly strong class and the standard of hay was higher than had been the case during ttyp past few years. The weather was fairly favourable when the crops were at' their best; and hence there was no undue delay in cutting by haying to wait for the weather as there was in most years. The winning stack of Mr. R. Cassie’s-at Okato was a fine sample of clean, well-saved hay, there being a splendid variety of grasses and clovers present. Details of all classes are:— STACK ENSILAGE (GRASS.)

R.M. Q. C. W. Tl. 20 50 10 20 100 H. Jones, Kaimata 19 48$ 9 18$ 95 W. J. Bridgeman, Okato 18$ 48 9$ 18$ 94$ Clemow Bros,, Cardiff 19 48 8$ 19 94$ A. N. Mills, Cardiff 18$ 48 9 19 94$ J. Kilsby, Tariki ,. 18 48$ 9$ 18$ 94$ R. B. Sutton, Inglewood 19 48$ 9 18 94$ D. S. Musker, Uruti 18 48$ 9 19 94$ STACK ENSILAGE (Other than grass). H. T. Paul, Okato 19 49 10 19 97 Mrs. Ashley, Okato 19 48$ 9$ 19 96 P. J. Elliot, Urenui 18 48 9$ 17$ 93 HILLSIDE STACK ENSILAGE. W. Summers, Tariki 18 48$ 9 191 95 H. T. Paul, Okato 18 48$ 9$ 18$ 94$ J. Carey, Okato .. 19 48 9 18 94 CONCRETE PITS. R.M. Q. W. Tl. 20 50 30 100 P. A. Openshaw, Lepperton 18 49 29J 962 G. H. Bell, Oakura .. 18 49 29$ 96$ E. C. Locke, Hillsborough 18$ 49 29 96$ EARTH PITS. (90 points and over.) J. Paulger, Tikorangi 18$ 48 29$ 96 E. Mahon, Tariki .... 18$ 48 29 95$ G. B. Knowles, Tariki 18 484 284 95 D. S. Musker, Uruti .. 18$ 48$ 28 95 F. Bracegirdle, Kaimata 18 48 29 95 HAY (99 points and over.) R.M. Q. B. Tl. 25 50 25 100 R. Cassie, Okato .... 23 4823 94 N. Berridge, Omata .. 23 48 22$ 93$ R. J. Carr, UrenUi .. 23 47$ 23 93$ Turner, Huirangi .. 23$ 47 23 93$ OATEN HAY. R. B. Fleming, Rahotu 24 46 20 90 R. Huckstep, Cardiff . 20 46 23 89 E. Bayly, Cardiff .... 20$ 44 23$ 88