MOUMAHAKI FARM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145082, 6 September 1916, Page 4

MOUMAHAKI FARM.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE PROPOSALS. At the request of the Prime Minister the Board-of Agriculture, which is prosided over by Sir J. G. Wilson, has visited ••the various Government experimental farms in the Dominion and submitted a report in connection therewith. In the portion lieaded ‘‘Recoiiimendations regarding Future Operations,” it deals with the Moumahaki Farm in what (the Patea Press says) may be termed, a retrograde manner when it suggests- that more than, half the farm be disposed of. It is not very long since the farmers in the -district who may be relied upon to-know‘the value of the farm to the country when asking that further land adjoining the farm be acquired and the whole turned into an Agricultural College for the training of students who were anxious to acquire a sound know-iedge-of up-to-date farming. The recommendations are as follows: MOUMAHAKI (580 acres.) The area, of this farm is greater than is required for experimental purposes. The homestead and 2(X) acres should be retained ter that- purpose, and the balance ‘sold. Here again the stud stock should be sold. The purebred Ayrshire cattle of good class, however, might bo transferred to any farm which might b© established in a neighbourhood where this breed is more suitable. An ordinary dairy herd should be retained, Tbo Leicester sheep should he sold. Tho sheep of the liyeland breed should bo concentrated' either at this farm or at Ruakura, and retained for some time to ascertain whether they are suitable for producing fat lambs or as wool , growers. The pigs are of good quality ! and should be retained. As the laud i seems to be suitable for potatoes, cx- j perimentg with these tubers should bo continued. The grass selection work should be extended. There is an immense field in this direction ter an-in-vestigation; as our production is practically dependent on the growth of j grassy any improvement upon tho exist- j ing varieties or any new grasses being | made available or known must be of ; great consequence to New Zealand. The ) lucerne experiments should certainly he continued. It should be of great advantage if some demonstration plots could be grown in various localities on. th e-west coast. •