FARM PRACTICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 13

FARM PRACTICE

HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS

AGRICULTURAL COURSE

VISITS TO COUNTRY

PUHA AND ORMOND In order to give pupils of the Gisborne High School's agricultural course a first-hand knowledge of modern agricultural practice, visits were paid recently to Mr. George Brown’s pig farm at Puha and to Mr. T. It. Jones’ dairy farm at Ormond.

There was no difficulty in finding Mr. Brown’s farm, even though its main buildings are situated about half a mile from the road and there is no name on the post-box, for the neat lay-out of the piggery is not to be mistaken. A closer view confirmed the eulogistic references heard in connection with the farm.

The general lay-out of the piggery, as well as particular features of it represent, as Mr. Brown pointed out, much that is best in the open-air system of pig husbandry as practised so widely and successfully in the Waikato. That the system is equally successful in the Gisborne district is borne out, especially by the very low mortality in Mr, Brown’s piggery.

Movement of l’igs

Probably the most striking characteristic of the whole lay-out is the arrangement facilitating movement of the pigs from any part of the area to a cleverly constructed pen to carry out such jobs as ringing and castrating. Although Mr. Brown is not a pedigree breeder, he stresses the value of litter recording, which he carries out with every litter aged three and eight weeks, doing this in the special pen. It was a striking commentary on the value of pig manure to see the remarkable growth of the ryegrass compared with that on unmanured paddocks outside the pjggery. No less striking was the value of the rotational grazing system so evidently necessary to maintain the highlymanured pastures in a youthful and useful state. The whole area, with its 22 paddocks, 11 on each side of a central race, lends itself admirably to rotational grazing.

An efficient water-supply, shade facilities in the form of “banyan tree’’ shelters, growing crops for pigs such as maize, sugar beet, carrots, and pumpkins and, above all, a high degree of cleanliness were other highlights observed in a very instructive tour of this piggery.

Efficiently Run Dairy Farm

At Mr. Jones’ dairy farm, although afternoon tea was not served in the milking shed, it would not have been out of place there from the point of view of airiness, brightness, and the absence of the least speck of dirt. Not the least to attract interest in the shed was the compact and efficient arrangement of the machines, motors, pumps, separator and cooler.

Interest was keen, too, in the study of the tractor and the skilful demonstration of its eifective working with implements, this latter being borne out in the good cultivation achieved on the heavy clay loam soil sown down to mangolds.

The pastures, so prominent a feature of this farm, were next observed. Although the boys, set the task of finding as many kinds of pasture plants as possible, managed to secure several, it was only after a long and diligent search, for the species present were almost predominantly ryegrass and white clover. That the rye-white association was made up largely of the highest-producing strains was to be seen clearly. High-Quality Pastures That the management of these highquality pastures was efficient was evident, too, in their good control, particularly with regard to the absence of buttercup, so characteristic of this type of land. This was especially noteworthy considering the extremely bad season just passed, with its winter pugging followed by summer and autumn drought. Nearly half ol this farm is now being shut up for certified ryegrass seed, and the present growth seems to he a good augury for the harvest. It was interesting to hear that last year’s seed production was so good, not only in yield per. acre but also in bushel weight, that the English standard in the’ latter was surpassed by over half as much again.

All these good pasture results were achieved very largely through good management in drainage, harrowing and autumn top-dressing. Top-dress-ing trials here some years ago proved the apparent superiority of superphosphate.

A parting gift of oranges proved that this fruit can he grown to high quality in this locality.