EXIT THE STUMPS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 8

EXIT THE STUMPS.

THE ADVANCE OF THE PLOUGH. Since bush farmers had been able to sell fat lambs from their mothers, thore had been an increased area stumped and ploughed, until now it was almost the rule, instead of the exception, to have a cultivation paddock (said Mr. J. G. Wilson at the Wellington Provincial Conference of. the Farmers' Union yesterday). He continued: "Where the cost of 'stumping is so considerable, the area,, is necessarily limited, and, therefore, the land must be occupied with some crop all the year round if possible. Experiments at Rotliawstead have" shown this to bo possible, and mangolds have there been grown on tho same ground year after year, without change, with artificial manure, until the loss of liuimis has at last caused tho land to run. together, and, after about 40 years' .continuous growth, it'had to be given up—not on ac: count of impoverishment, but because of want of air to the roots.

Mr. Hall, the director of that valuable experiment farm, recommends that tho hay crop should be taken off the same land year after year, and that it should be suitably top-dressed to supply the food. There is ample room for experiment in this, direction, and I would urge sonic bush farmer in each district to co-operatp with, the experimental supervisor (Mr. Baylis) and so institute experiments to solve the problem of the best system of continuous cropping. The Government: supplies the send and manures, and supervises the experiments, and tho fanner does tho work and takes the produce. • ."

There is much need in all bush districts for experiments of this nature, and the various branches should arrange for some lo be carried out in their neighbourhood. ]f thero is a high school near, it would add a great deal to the usefulness of the experiments, if they could be made in conjunction with it, so as to bring the pupils into close touch with what is being done. Mr. Braik. the chief inspector in the Wanganui. Education dis ; . trict, is instituting experiments 1, rieaf Marton Junction, where he proposes bringing the students from Taihapo, Feilding, Miirtou, and Bulls to work at them." . . . ■■ . . ■ ■ •