FARMING PRACTICE

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3477, 9 June 1934, Page 6

FARMING PRACTICE

THE FAILURE OF SCIENCE

SLOGAN SHOULD BE: "BACK TO NATURE."

One of the frequent contributors to newspaper controversy on the subject of farming practice, and the need for its more universal improvement along sane and sound lines, is Mr G. P. Moore, of the Wanganui district, a gentleman known all over the Dominion for his success as a breeder and exhibitor of high-class cattle, and sheep, and also in the racing world as bueeder of the horses Reremoana, Lady Cavendish, and other good ones. Mr Moore is an original thinker, and he contributes the following interesting letter on the alleged failure of science in its attitude toward farming successully:— '* Over a number of years I have been carefully observing the effect of our ordinary bracken fern upon cattle, and I have noticed that no matter how wet and cold the weather may be, when they can get access to fern they will never scour. Therefore, I am quite sure it would be a very valuable thing if one could have a small corner of fern growing in every paddock. Just recently I had a splendid illustration of this; for some reason or other three calves commenced to scour badly. After they had done so for about a week it occurred to me to cut some big bracken fern, snip the fronds or side branches off the stalks, and feed them to the calves. I did this twice a day for two days, keeping the calves away from water, and they were absolutely cured in that time, and have been quite well ever since. Of course, if I had been able to change them intto a paddock where fern was growing they would have cured themselves. " If I had followed the usual scientific practice I would have given them a drench, instead of which nature's remedy was used, which cost nothing. There can be no doubt that fern has been placed in districts where there is a heavy annual rainfall to counteract its effect upon stock. If wire fencing can be made cheaper it will be found that fern can be made a friend to us instead of an enemy. If our scientists, instead of endeavouring to improve upon nature, were to try and discover nature's secrets, and make use of them what splendid results would be achieved. Yet otherwise clever men continue to waste their talents and energy in seeking to attain the impossible. There is a natural remedy for almost every ill, and if we will only work hand in hand with nature we can discover it.

"May I suggest that a careful analysis be made of the bracken fern which grows in this district, and I will venture tto say that there are valuable properties in it. The old Maori used to make flour out of fern root, and we all know how well 1 wild pigs thrive on that diet. Some years ago I suggested to a Government analyst that it might be worth while obtaining an analysis of bracken fern, but was informed that it would be a costly process, and it was even hinted that it was poisonous to stock. This I can absolutely disprove, for every year we have been in the habit of putting some run breeding cows into a small paddock in which there is little else but standing bush fern and rough grass, and they have calved there and done splendidly. Sowthistle is a sure remedy for kidney trouble in horses. Docks will cure certain ailments in cattle. "If I were to recommend top-dress-ing prairie grass with sand from the seashore most people would consider me almost mad, yet it is quite sound practice, for prairie grass flourishes best in pure sand. lam certain that a dressing of sand would benefit pastures in districts where the soil is of a stiff clayey nature, retaining the damp; and it would be cheap fertiliser. We all know what a wonderful effect the natural potash from a bush burn has upon both pasture and stock. ' Back to Nature,' should be the slogan of our I would like to see some of the farmers in the wettest and heaviest clay parts of Miai'ton and Manawatu districts try out my theory of using sand from the sea beach as a fertiliser. It should be good, containing as it does iron and salt, and it would have a drying effect also."