WINTER FARM SCHOOL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3100, 20 June 1929, Page 4

WINTER FARM SCHOOL

THE CAMBRIDGE FIXTURE. INFORMATIVE LECTURES. The Winter Farm School organised by the Agricultural Department, in conjunction with the local, branch of the Farmers' Union, was concluded on Tuesday evening. In the afternoon Mr. E. J. Fawcett, farm economist, delivered a very interesting and inf ormatfvc lecture on "Waikato Dairy-Farm Management." There was an attendance of about 50, who keenly appreciated the comprehensiveness of the lecturette. Again in the evening the school was continued, when Mr. J. W. Woodcock, Waikato instructor, delivered Mr. E. Bruce Levy's lecturette on "Improved Strains of Grasses and Clovers'.'» With such an important subject it was to be regretted that the attendance was small.

At the conclusion of the evening lecture "the President of the local Farmers' Union (Mr. H. Watkins), on behalf of the Union and district farmers, thanked the lecturers for the wealth of information made available. Mr. Watkins also extended thanks to the Department and its officers for organising the school ttti3 year.

Although many district farmers were unable to be present, they'will be able to peruse the lecturettes, in the shape of a series of articles, that will appear from time to time in the "Independent," during the next few weeks. ;

A PEW NOTES. During the course of the school the lecturers answered a number of questions from farmers keen on obtaining information. Asked if cocksfoot was a good grass for dairying, the reply was that it should take a subsordinate place. Byegrass, white clover, and a little paspalum made a good combination. Pure ryegrass would produce much more butterfat than cocksfoot. ■',_■. Another questioner said that he had put down a small amount of ensilage two seasons ago, and he was very well satisfied with the results. At the beginning of this season he had put down a pit of about 50 tons, but he had not been satisfied that it had held up the cows as anticipated. The'lecturer said he had heard the same thing himself. Probably the pasture had been allowed to get away too much before it wasmade into ensilage. When grass got long there was less protein value. Wherever possible,- pasture should be specially set aside and harvested while in the young stage. Asked if paspalum in pastures could be controlled, the lecturer said hi had seen pastures at one- period that had looked to contain all ryegrass, but later hnd appeared to be all paspalum. Much depended on management. \lf the paspalum were not allowed to seed, he considered that it could be controlled. What is the best amount of ensilage to feed out per cow? was another question, the reply being about 401bs. The lecturer said, if the supply "was available the cows might be given as much as they could eat.

How can I get rid of Scotch thistle? was the query of a somewhat concerned farmer. "Keep it from seeding, and don't ask me «how to eradicate ragwort,*? was the smiling reply. Asked if there was any known method,, of getting rid of pennyroyal and tall fescue, one of the lecturers replied that the matter of tall fescue, which was causing so" much concern on the Hauraki Plains, was being investigated, by the Department. The planting of paspalum would help. No definite remedy had yet been discovered for dealing with pennyroyal, but a good dressing of salt would do no harm.