EXPERIMENT FARMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1274, 1 November 1911, Page 8

EXPERIMENT FARMS.

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE'S REJPOJiT. Referring to cxperinient farms in his annual report the Minister for Agriculture says that the farms that have been tho longer established are now comparatively developed, and will in. future l;e of but a small annual cost to the country. This especially applies to Jlouuialiaki and Woreroa. Itunkura, , established in 1901, sliouid in the near future prove it&elf to lie one of the most reproductive). There remains hero considerable equipment to be provided. There is especially the important development of farm training for young men in conjunction with experimental and demonstration work. This phase of agricultural education will most assuredly obtain the sympathy of the- farming, community. It is not intended that tho training shall approach the dimensions of that provided by the agricultural collogo, but it will furnish a sound, practical preparation for tho.se whoso occupation will be oa the farm. The building-up of purebred dairy herds on a productive basis is one of the lending features of the experimental farm work of the Department. The various purebred herds are systematically tested, find breeding according to a performoncs pedigree is thus made feasible iiiid successful. The main benefit from this work is that farmers will be nliie to secure at tho respective farms purebred hulls, accompanied by a milking pedigree of their dams, and that of the dams of their sires. The officers of tho Department liavo received repeated assuraticps that this policy is keenly appreciated by dairy farmers. The scientific side of the farms is being extended principally in the direction of plant-breeding and seed-jelcction, while the testing of many imported plants that may bo of utility to (he Dominion will form a feature of future work. During the year (he experimental farms received a visit from two of the Scottish Agricultural Commissioners who investigated agricultural conditions ; in Australia, and who extended their tour to Nov.- Zealand. It was unfortunate that t.heir visit v.-as made at a tinm whun tho bulk of tho experimental crops hntl been hfirve-rted, ami when tho effects of dry weather did not permit the farms to be studied to advantage. Both gentlemen—Mossrs. James Keith and James Dunlop—highly appreciated tho Holstein

herd at AVereron. Jfr. Dunlop remarking that tho young stock were in bettor condition than any ho had scon since he left the Old Country. The visitor who continued his tour—.Mr. Dunlop—declared that Jloumahaki was the cleanest farm ho had seen outside of Scotland, the quality of the crops, notwithetaudin? the droiifrhf, being ciiloffiwd. Prior to le.-tv-ing (his farm Mr. Uuiilop emphasised the importance of cow-testing and the value of lucerne to the dairy farmer. To both of the?e things the Department has devofed unremitfin.? interest.

At WaereiiKa the Department has madea wide departure from the genera! policy of on experimental farm. The principal work here has been tho development of the scheme of small fruit farms. The Department clears, cultivates, and plants in fruit trees appropriate fruit areas for settlement.

The secretary of tho Taranaki Agricultural Society leaves for the Palmerston North spring show on Tuesday next, to rppresnnt the above society. The secretary expects to receive a great number of entries while in Palmerston, as he has had great inquiries from that part of the Dominion.

The entries for the butter competitions to take place at the Taranaki Agricultural Society's annual spring show have closed, and the results are extremelv s,itisfactory, as they show an inc.rei.4 of foven more entries than ever received by the society on any previous occasion. This should be very gratifying to the committee, and from entries' to hand in other classes, which nre really not duo until November IS, it points clearly that the forthcoming show is going to be tho greatest exhibition in all cha.es ever witnessed in Taranaki. Factory Managers are invited to drop a post-cord for particulars of cheese vats and hoops, the best made, Victor brand, to Albert J. Parton, Carterton. Do it now.* Chick-rearing is not only profitable but a pleasure, when you feed "A. and P." Chick Raiser. It is a complete and properly-blended food for Young Chicks. Obtainable from all storekeepers.—Advt.