AGRICULTURE IN WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1920, Page 4

AGRICULTURE IN WESTLAND

ANNUAI. REPORT. (JJy 0. S. Dalgliesh, Fields Instructor, Hokitika).

'Climatic conditions in.this district from April to the end of December, 1919, were decidedly against farming operations and the earrymg-out of work in progress oii Experimental areas, owing to the excessively , , wet. weather, there being a rainfall of 77 in. in that period. Since, then the conditions have been excellent—fine weather with occasional bursts of rain. Another feature which militated against getting satisfactory work done on experimental areas was the scarcity of suitable*;labour; in fact, labour skilled to' do the work- required 1 cannot be procured on the Coast, arid one has to make the best of whatever labour is available. •'

Cereal crops did well,'and made- a rapid growth during December. nip crops are at present looking healthy, although the brairds were extremely poor in some districts,* and resowing had to be resorted to in many instances. During the year a number of farms were visited for the purpose of giving advice in the growing of suitable crops, laying down of pastures, and mauurial treatment. Soil-samples, for lime requirement were taken and forwarded to the Chemist for analysis, thp results being communicated to the farmers. • All samples forwarded show that lieav-y dressings of lime are required. In company with Mr A. Macplierson, Fields Instructor, of Christchurch, a visit of inspection was paid to the Grey Valley district last August, foi; the purpose of selecting an area for an experimental farm. An area of 150 acres was selected at Wairiiaunga.

Experimental Areas.—Hokitika: Of this area 0 acres*were in turnips and 7 •acres in lucerne. The turnips, although sown late (February, 1919), made very good growth. The area has since been sown down in grass, and is carrying good feed at present. The lucerne has done poorly, and 4- acres of same has beep resown with grass. Moana: This area has beep, leased for grazing purposes during the year: Grass-mixtures sown in February, 1919, have made favourable progress.

itotomanu: This area was ploughed in the spring, and sown in swede manorial and variety tests at the end of December, weather conditions delaying -the sowing until this date. . Westport: - The Westport grassingarea. of 2 acres was sown in two grass mixtures of half an acre each, and one acre in ten individual • grasses. The grass mixtures have done excellently, but the individual grass plots suffered from a strong growth of weeds, principally spurrey and redshank. The area at Sergeant’s Hill was abandoned, and the fencing material removed and used for the Westport grassing-area.

Murchison.: The fernland grassingarea at Murchison has been well stocked with sheep during the season, and at present is closely fed down. Sheep show a decided liking for the No. 4 plot, in which Poa pratensis is the dominating grass.

Drainage of hush-terrace land: Drainage by explosives was tried on this "class of land by driving a bar down,to depths of from sft to Bft and then putting in a strong charge of explosive, but results were not effectual. Shafts were sunk to a depth of 9ft, and lift, and good drainage was obtained in this way.

general. The economic investigation of the montane tussock-grassland conducted bv Dr L. Cockayne, F.R.S., as outlined in last year’s report, has been continued during the period under review. Many data of a valuable nature have been obtained and the most important features published in the Journal. During the year the matter of an experimental farm for the 'West Coast district of the South Island was definitely advanced by the purchase of an, area of 150 acres near Waimaunga railway station, Grey Valley. Measures to develop the area are now being put in hand.