NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

CAETEItTON BRANCH. , The last meeting of the Carterton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was presided.over, by Mr. .rnines Hodder. -,• It was reported that it was almost 'impossible to obtain supplies of superphosphates, in the AA'airarapa at tho present time., and it was resolved to bring under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture the imperative need of procuring adequate, supplies for distribution. It was resolved to again request tho Government, to publish the names of known agents of the American Meat Trust. Mr. F. Ward, of the Department of Agriculture, and recently appointed I#. the AA'airarapa district, addressed the meeting, and pointed out that his. experience was at the disposal of tho •■ farmers, .and he was desirous of being of the greatest possible service to them. With the present high price of land, farmers could toot afford to be backward and allow things to take their own course. The speaker did not think New Zealand would ever be a great cropproducing country, the land being more adapted-generally for stock raising, and he saw no reason why it should not become the stud farm of the Southern Hemisphere. lieferenco' was made to the work'at the Runkura 'Experimental Farm, which 'property - was once- a swamp, and luid been improved to the extent-Hint it would now carry 13 head of sheep to the acre for eight months of the year./' The. practice of. growing gnus after a. cereal crop was not a good- one, the ground being then in its lowest fertility, and Mr.' AA'ard suggested better results would.be. obtained bv putting the field down in rape. Referring to grasses, the speaker said cocksfoot had a very wide range of adaptability to soils, and no mixture should bo without a certain amount of ryegrass, as well as a sprinkling of clover. The cause of past deterioration. of pastures was overstocking. Grass did not -depend, on its feeding value alone, but upon, its palatftbility as well, AVliere sheep alone were being run, the paddocks should be rested occasionally. In tlw' proper development of the ljind drainage_.was an important factor. AVaterlogged 'soil did .not give the manures a fair chance to be. of service to the soil, and in nearly every instance/ lime and 'phosphates. were badly needed, f° r in the majority of .soils phosphates wero deficient. The speaker described , the action of lime on • the soil, and considered basic sing the most suitable for top-dressing, and in view of the present shortage, superphosphate was the next best. The time was -approaching when nolash in considerable quantity would be needed. Mr. AVard emnhasised the fact Hint there was no short cut to pasture improvement, and only the best methods could be afforded in dealing with the land. At the close of Hie address Mr. AVard was 'accorded ft vote of thanks.