Schools For Farmers

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 53, 9 June 1948, Page 5

Schools For Farmers

LECTURERS TOURING DISTRICTS OF BAY

The Federated Farmers of N.Z. (Inc.), Bay of Plenty Province, have organised a series of six Farm Schools, each of two days and nights. During the last fortnight schools have been held at Katikati, Te Puke and Tauranga. On Monday and yesterday a school was held at Opotiki today and tomorrow one will be held at Awakeri tomorrow and Friday at Waimana. A shuttle-service of lectures has been arranged, between Awakeri and Waimana for .tomorrow, when two schools will be held simultaneously. At Opotiki on Monday, Mr A. V. Alio, Instructor in Agriculture, Tauranga, stressed the importance of consolidation in establishing new pastures and advocated the use of certified seeds.

In dealing with topdressing, Mr E. R. Marryatt said that anything super could do, serpentine super could do better. He advised farmers to experiment on their own farms before changing their present manurial policy. Mr H. Woodyear-Smith, Technical Field Advisor, Challenge - Phosphate Co., discussed winter feeding of the dairy herd and pointed out the necessity for more even feeding over the season and advocated silage in preference to hay for winter feed. Last night he showed the films “Science of Milk Production,” “The River” and “New Earth,” In his talk on pasture management yesterday, Mr A. V. Alio advocated rotational grazing and the correct use of the grassland harrows and the mower.

Mr T. Hankin, District Superintendent, Livestock Division, discuss-

ed temporary sterility and septic abortion and many other stock diseases.

Mr H. Woodyear-Smith lectured on the growing of supplementary crops by the dairy farmer, paying special attention to roots and greenfeed crops.

Mr E. R. Marryatt dealt with the principle of Farm Forestry, including the planting and use of farm shelter, the growing of farm timber for posts and sawn timber, and also for fuel. e The schools have been very well attended in some districts and reasonably well attended in others and all farmers who have attended seem to agree that they are beneficial and that they could do with more of the same class of lectures. The itinerary has been the responsibility of Mr E. J. Vosper, Dominion Organiser, Federated Farmers of New Zealand.