FIELD DAY AT WAIMAUNGA.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1926, Page 4

FIELD DAY AT WAIMAUNGA.

The field dayi at the State Farm at AA’aimaunga on Monday was attended by nearly 100 visitors from various parts of AVestland. Air C. S. Dalgliesh (Officer in Charge) opened the programme by conducting the party over the farm, visiting as they went various places illustrating the manner in which pastures had been established, and also in many instances depleted, and methods employed for restoration, some of which had met with considerable success, in restoring the fertility. During the course of the “farm stroll” a diversity of questions were put to tho Government experts by farmers*. An excellent sample of ensilage mails 2) years ago from pastures surplus grass was examined by those interested and quite an interesting discussion arose as to the merits of this stock food and the making of the same.

Later on a. short demonstration was given by Mr It. Waters, Officer-in-Charge of the Biological Laboratory, Wellington, of the reasons for thinning swedes to certain distances, and tho methods that 'had been employed in estimating the weight of crops per acre in tho recent swede experiments that had been conducted at the farm. Proceeding to tlic area where these experiments had been laid out, Messrs AYators and Dalgliesh addressed the party, setting out the results that had been obtained. They pointed out, that tho fact that a crop of a weight exceeding twenty tons per acre and practically free from disease of any kind had been produced on these experiments, showed that the weather which was exceptionally unfavourable during the past season, was by no means in itself a harrier to the production of a. satisfactory crop of swedes in AA r ostland. On the other hand it was clearly demonstrated that, as in other provinces, it was necessary to treat the soil in order to secure a good c-rop. Certain plots were then exhibited which indicated that on land such as that at the farm the application of wood ashes was instrumental in producing a. crop free from Mottled-Heart Disease. Nevertheless, it was pointed out that wood ashes even when used in very heavy dress-

nigs would not by itself give a heavy yielding crop. The use of various pliosplmtie manures had an entirely different function to the ashes ; such manures increasing the field considerably, hut in no way avoided the disease which was shown (by cutting) to be very prevalent. When ashes,, however, were used in conjunction with phosphatic manures comparatively heavy crops were produced and 9o to 100 per cent, of such crops were free from any trace of disease.

The experiments in question involved over 180 plots. The party then passed on to a plot of healthy swedes where a row half a chain long had been pegged out for a guessing competition as to the weight per acre. The half chain contained thirty-two swedes which represented a weight of 37.2 tons per acre and the competition was won by Mr W. Wilson of Camerons, who guessed 37 tons. At the farm steadings Mr Lukey (Government Veterinarian) gave an address upon the diseases of stock and their treatment. lit dealing with Milk Fever he stressed the importance of not stripping the'cows in the early days of lactation and displayed the apparatus and the methods used in' introducing air into the udder as a remedy for this malady. He then spoke on the subject of Marmitis, recommending hot formentations and the subject application of oil to prevent chills setting in after treatment. On the subject of vaccine treatment he said that whilst he would

not condemn the system of treatment, yet the experiments that had been conducted by his Department lias not produced any support for vaccine as used. He then touched upon the subject of foot rot and explained the nature, cause and treatment of this trouble. In regard to tuberculosis he named the different animals that were liable to infection and the differences in the various types of the organism that produce the disease. The disease be said was liable to affect cows in various parts but was most likely to contaminate the milk when tlie udder or the bowel was affected. He then concluded with a .short reference to the major diseases of sheep and their treatment. Mr AV. Clayton (President of the Grey Valley Farmers’ Union) then proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Dalgliesh, Waters and Lukey for their interesting and instructive addresses. He pointed out that uo one could come away from the swede plots without being struck by the great value of such a demonstration to the farming community of the Coast; and he trusted that such work would be carried out in successive seasons. Mr Carter (President of the West Coast Provincial Executive Farmers’ Union) said that he desired to unite with Mr Clayton in the vote of thanks. He was most anxious to see the development of Agricultural Research in Westland and he felt that a start had been made in earnest in the experiments that they had seen that afternoon. Discussions on subjects of great variety were then carried on bv various groups into which the party had divided and the meeting concluded about 5 p.m.