WONDERFUL WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17996, 15 April 1930, Page 9

WONDERFUL WAIKATO.

«©»- , MANAWATU MAN’S VIEWS. RAPIDITY of development. “DAIRY FARM OF EMPIRE." The impressions of a Manawatu dairyman who toured the Waikato, published recently In the Manawatu Standard, make interesting reading. “After the lower boundaries of the Waikato district are reached the aspect of the surrounding country .is completely changed from that which has recently been left behind, he writes. “in every direction undulating fields are carrying rich green pastures, most of will oh arc used for depasturing dairy cattle. It is scarcely conceivable that not longer ago than 25 years ago, this land was regarded as unsuitable for dairying or any other farm purpose- Viewed from teh train for miles upon miles, this country was formerly a long dreary tract of scrub; it covered unpromising land and sustained only a small population of live-stock over the whole area- Taking Ala tan gi as a centre, it is stated that there are now over 5000 dairy cows in occupation of. the land within a radius of five miles. Other centres throughout the province are proportionately well stocked. The oilier day a small dclapidated building was pointed out to me as being the first creamery erected in South 1 Auckland by an optimist who tried to persuade farmers that dairying had a great future but was laughed at for his pains. Now in less than thirty I years this pioneer of the dairy industry has seen the industry develop to proportions which seem like a romance. The district yields onesixth of the dairy produce output of the Dominion. “Good Boosters.” “The good people of Waikato are •naturally proud of their achievements in the past and have visions of further progress. Besides being good farmers, they are good boosters of then •province, and townspeople are not be hind in impressing upon the visitor that- Waikato is the dairy farm of the Empire. You arc told that it is the home of the most progressive farmers, that it has the biggest dairy factories, the biggest herd testing associations and tiie one and only worth Avlnie Dairy Show. On the other side ot the picture a few well directed inquiries disclosed the fact that among the oilier big things there might be included the interest bill on mortgages which some of the high priced land is labouring under. This allusion to interest charges does not mfei trial the farmers of the Waikato are not, prospering, as it is apparent that the majority of them are doing very well, but, land values appear to be on me high sideEnthusiasm and Fertilisers. “AVhat has been the motive power behind all this rapid development and increased production, and what can farmers in other centres learn from their Waikato friends? Briefly stated, well directed enthusiasm and management, plus superphosphate is the main factor. The systematic top-dressing of pastures and the conservation of forage has reached a very advanced stage and as dairy farming practically constitutes the one and. only farm activity, the more enlightened and en terprising farmers keep on setting a higher standard which their neighbours endeavour to emulate, with the result that progress is being steadily maintained. “A few years ago it was not thou 0 m possible to dairy farm.< successfu y without growing special root and forage crops; now it is very unusual for the plough to be used at all on the majority of farms. Being able through the use of manures and a suitable climate to secure a good allt.h e-year-round growth of grass, rotational grazing makes it possible to keep pastures in their most useful state Surplus growth is conserved in very large quantities. More stacks of ensilage are to he seen to the square mile in the Waikato than will be found in the whole of the Manawatu It is very significant and illustrative of the value of closer grazing that, although the Waikato has experienced dry weather for the past, three months the pastures are everywhere green and palatable through being kept short and leafy Growth naturally has not been rapid during the dry spell, but wherever w has been necessary io provide extra milk producing food ensilage is being used for the purpose. Small farms intensively cultivated and stocked with cattle of high performance, are making South Auckland so highly productive.’