SUCCESSFUL FARMING

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1935, Page 8

SUCCESSFUL FARMING

FIELD CONTESTS AT TOKO ONE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP. ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING DANCE. Toko farmers were congratulated both on the fertility of their soil and on their methods of farming by speakers at the annual prize-giving dance of the Toko branch of the Farmers’ Union on Thursday evening when cups, trophies and certificates were presented to the winners of root and field competitions conducted by the union. The occasion is always an important one to settlers of the district and, as usual, a large number attended the dance. Before supper a table laden with cups and the points prize shield was brought forward and Mr. T. T. Murray, president of the branch, introduced the more serious business of the evening. Mr. Murray briefly reviewed the activities of the branch in the direction of promotion of competitions designed to increase knowledge and improve methods. Referring more particularly to the successes of the past year, he extended congratulations to Mr. D. Johnson on bringing another championship to Toko by winning the North Tarankai award for the best swede crop in the provincial district. Year after year a Taranaki championship was won by a Toko farmer, or a Toko farmer had come very close to winning, said Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, before distributing the prizes. This remarkable list of successes tended to show, firstly, how good was the land of the district and, secondly, how well, generally speaking, that land was worked. It was, said Mr. Polson, a happy thought on the part of the branch executive to mark the distribution of prizes with a social gathering. Speaking , more intimately of farmers and their associations, Mr. Polson traced the phenomenal growth of the union throughout the Dominion and the even more phenomenal growth of the Women’s Division. Everywhere in New Zealand, he said, gatherings of similar social and helpful significance were taking place, bringing farmers, their wives and families closer, together, with incalculable benefit to the community. Farmers today sought to help themselves more, and in doing so they eagerly took advantage of facilities offered to study the methods and systems of their neighbours. In this connection a very valuable work was being done by officers of the fields division of the Agricultural Department. Taranaki, he considered, was singularly fortunate in having an officer of Mr. A. G Elliott’s experience and capabilities to follow Mr. J. M. Smith as officer in charge of the district. “My acquaintance with many of you farmers has so far been of a very hurried nature,” said Mr. Elliott. VI rush on your property and ask where is your crop or your stock, inform you that you have been awarded so many points, and say good-bye. Now, however, I am able to meet you with the time really to get to know you.” BRANCH CONGRATULATED. Mr. Elliott congratulated the Toko branch on the strong support given the competitions by members and said the keenness displayed had proved a great encouragement to him. Mr. Johnsons success with his swede crop had been the feature of the competitions. It was a success all the more to be admired owing to the fact that the season had been particularly unkind to croppers, few farmers having achieved anything like the splendid results at Toko.. Mr. Elhott reviewed other competitions, making special reference to the close contest in the ensilage event and to the fine stack built by Mr. W. Swindlehurst in the hay competition. ~ , Toko, said Mr. H. E. Blyde, president of the North Taranaki provincial executive, had the honour of being one of the first districts in Taranaki to take part in field competitions and, remarkable as it might seem, the district had always been in the running for one or more of the provincial championships. Although the competitions invariably drew satisfactory entries in the district, he would be pleased to see more new names. Some of the keener farmers supported the competitions year after year, but he thought a good deal could be done in interesting others to enter. In this connection it was pleasing to note that Mr. Swindlehurst, in his first year as a competitor, had won the hay competition, an examle that should serve as an incentive to other good men. Mr. Blyde was convinced that it would pay farmers handsomely to enter freely and thus increase their knowledge. He was satisfied that to learn efficient methods it was necessary to study not only one’s own materials, but also the materials and systems of ■ their neighbours.

Before presenting the cups and trophies Mr. Polson referred to Mr. L. Martell, secretary of the branch, as “the man responsible for the success of these competitions.” The awards were:— Swede growing competition: First in local competition, Jones Bros.’ cup and certificate, Mr. D. Johnson, weight 61 tons 17cwt. Mr. Johnson’s magnificent crop was also adjudged the best in North Taranaki, thus winning the Polson Challenge Cup for the North Taranaki championship. Second, certificate, Mr. E. Jones. Third, certificate, Mr. G. Cook. Carrot-growing competition: First in local competition, branch silver cup (won outright by virtue of three wins) and certificate, Mr. R. Kingan, weight 59 tons 6cwt. Second, certificate, Mr. R. Kingan’s No. 2 crop. Third, certificate, Mr. W. G. Loving.

Half acre.of mangold?: First in local competition, branch cup' and certificate, Mr. Evan Jones, weight 129 tons. Mr. Jones’ crop was also adjudged second in the North Taranaki championship. Second, certificate, and third in championship, Mr. R. Kingan. Ensilage competition: First in competition, branch cup and certificate, Mr. R. Kingan. Second, certificate, Mr. A. Marfell. Third, certificate, Messrs. H. J. Cook and R. Kingan’s No. 2 stack, equal. In this competition only three points separated the seven competitors and there was only one point between those filling the four first places.

Hay competition: First in competition, branch cup and certificate, Mr. W. Swindlehurst. Second, certificate, Mr. Evan Jones. Third, certificate. Mr. H. J. Kaye. 4 Pasture competition: First in competition, branch’s cup an<’ certificate, Mr. L. Marfell. Second, certificate, Mr. G. W. Were. Third, certificate, Mr. T. T. Murray. One acre of mangolds (a local competition in which competitors were ineligible to enter the whole acre in any championship event): First, Evan Jones Cup, Messrs. P. and J. Jones, weight 129 tons. Second, Mr. R. Kingan. Music for the dance was provided by Vinsen’s Ambassadors’ band.

PERSONAL ITEMS. Miss Mary Bottcher, who has been an inmate of the Stratford hospital for the last 16 days, has returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Bunker have returned after a holiday at Hamilton.