VISIT TO RUAKURA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 29 January 1913, Page 2

VISIT TO RUAKURA.

A NEW OAT EXPERIMENT

PROVES A GREAT SUCCESS

THE TRACTOR PLOUGH

GENERAL WORK AT THE FARM

A representative of the Wnikato "Times," who visited tho Ruakura. Farm of Instruction on tho occasion of ■r» trial with tho .n/>w tractor plough, exptosces himself as well satisfied witli tho work that is going on them. Thi3 popular and valuable institution :. a of graat benefit to Waikato. ond its worlf-4 are calculated to aid the farmers of the district in many points of scientific farming.

DISEASE RESISTING OAT. * Tlio visitor -was struck by a new var ioty of oat that is more' resistant to disease than the Algerian, with which most successful experiments— mow na*-.». Ed out of the experimental ebrigo— hav.o bean made. This oat trill also be found to bo of si much bettor quality than tho Algerian. It was chosen by Mr Green, selector and ho rticultur .-.;*:; at Ruakura. It was Tmrnad that five seres of that seed will'be available for distribution, .and when tri,2<l it is believed that this oat wiU speedily become more famous than the already famous Algerian. Visitors to the- Faran during tba last few days have express, ed thoir surpris-a at tho prodiictinTy of this oa/t, and it is generally reooc;niesd by local farmers who have witnessed the experiments that great strides have been mad© a^t th© institution in this direction. On© of the oldest farmers in Waikato oommented on the fact. He said : "I am simply amaz-

Ed at what has been accomplished at Ruakura. Even in this apparently small matter enormous benefits must accrue to the district. I think that even some of our 'once-looked-upon' poor lands will respond to this oafc. It may, on these poor lands, to which I am more particularly referring just now, require some encouragement in th.3 way of artificial manures, but Ithink that by the judicious application of about ljcwt. of artificial manure on what is to-day considered comparatively poor land, but which I consider to bo of medium quality, would revolutionise the cropping industry in Waikato."

Tho pressman met an'othor wellknown old Waikato farmer, who also expressed pleasure at having once again met Mr Clifton, who had taken tha keenest possible interest in experimental farms since their inception. The "Times" man also saw Mr Clifton. Director of Experimental Farms, and casually asked him whether he could give a few particulars about the position of Ruakura at tho presont time compared to the time when it was first acquired.

"No," replied Mr Clifton, "I cannot cay anything. I hare no desire. The farmers of Waikato ar,9 well aware of what has been accomplished. I fe>el," ho continued, "that speaking imparsonally I have done my utmost to demonstrate what can be done." The pressman ©xpreseed the utmost satisfaction in the fact that the Massey Government is progressive. It was the first time that h© had seen a tractor at work, and h? was surprised at what could 'be done with it as against tho work that could be accomplished by ordinary horsa teams.

CHAIR OF AGRICULTURE

Whilo at Ruakura he had a chat with a farmer who expressed pleasure that an effort was being made to establish a Chair of Agriculture in Waikato. Ho contended that Ruakura was admirably situated for euch a chair. "In fact," he added eloquently, "there is no locality at all situated so admirably for a Chair of Agriculture than Ruakura. We have Sir John LoganCampbell's bequest of £20,000, and so far as I am ooncerred," b^ added. "I have watched the progress of Waikato and the development of Ruakura since Mr Clifton was appointed Director, and I have bsen simply amazed at the enormous progress that hss teen made. Give us the Chair at Ruakura," ho concluded, "and you will recognise, as we all have done as farmers, and as visitors have done from Auckland and other districts extending «c far north as Dargaville, the enormous work that is being done experimentally here, arid the great benefits that have accrued to tho farming fraternity of the North Island." -*■■■

"The Government's policy is a progressive policy," he said, "and I hope they will continue it."