WEST COAST FARMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1927, Page 4

WEST COAST FARMERS

liATTLE WITH THE LAND

(Christchurch Proas)

Because their district once entirely devoted to mining is still largely in the pioneer stage, the visit of the West Coast, farmers to Canterbury inis had a special interest and value. The farmers have learned much of modern farming .methods, but those from «'hom they have learned in turn have been amazed at the exceptional conditions of production on the West Coast. These Mere demonstrated in the personal accounts given by the visitors, but more concisely in the special demonstration a ranged by Mr C. S. Dalgiiesh, Agricultural Instructor of the Waimatinga Experimental Karm. in the exhibition

* ,i ol i lie I'ai users' special train. It Mas made clear tin: tanning on lie* Win (oast i* rather different from tintniie* elsewhere a difference wider

even than that het-necu lirst ami seI classes of land. The standard met hods have had to he sharply revised. Research on the West Coast is original in every sense of the Mold.

While much is left for the experimenter to discover in each department there are three essentials for payable farming on the West Coast, and these, which Air Dalgiiesh had depicted in hold letters are: (1) the establishment and maintenance of good pasture ; '(2l the care of stock and provision of winter feed ; CD the improvement of stock by selection, breeding, and testing of dairy herds.

The rules apply particularly to AAest Coast conditions. Air Dalgiiesh says, and in every part oi the Coast lime and manure arc essential. I’he addition of m cod-ash in conjunction wiih other manures lias a.lso produced oxeelleni results. Sometimes lie had got good results when M'ood-aslt nas used nitliout lime; it made ior good i[Uality. VALUE OK PLOUGHING.

'Another important essential in the treatment ol West Ciast land, said Alt* Dalgiiesh. Mas good ploughing. Adequate aeration id the soil had a vital inllueme on the West Coast. It was imnertani to have well set-up furrons, ami he recommended the use iitterwanls of the skimmer, li, the ear picture- were -lion u of the former method, demonstrating a maximum of aeration and a minimum of labour, and the latter, where the reverse was the ease, days being spent oil the seed-bed preparations.

Talking of prospects. Air Dalgiiesh said there was much laborious study ahead of those interested in West Coast conditions, blit he was satisfied their research would he well repaid. There had been proof of the value of fertilising and top-dressing. and thi- lie remind: il hi- questioner. was amply proved in |he turf sample- and photograph- shown in tlie exhibition car. One of the most remarkable of iheso was a photograph showing a. comparison in the turnip yields of two section- of a held, one of which had been dressed with lime. The turnips from this section averaged IT Ih. each. In another part of the ear were statistics | proving that one farmer at Totarn. Flat had profitably run 1 ein s on 3! acres alter top-dressing, pari ieuhirs of whicli during the lasi few years were given in detail. "The farmer on i In* West Coast is Still a pioneer." -aid All* Dalgiiesh. “and while there i- much to lie learned. he i- on sure ground. A few mistakes have been made, hut little harm i an. come to the fanner who believes mi proper fell ili-ing. Top-dressing is the greatest need of West Coast land at present, and I think that in time the land there will be one of the most quoted examples ol its value." EX PER lAIEXT S SUPPORTED. The farmers are in full sympathy with Alt' Dalgliesh’s work. They have formed an agricultural committee, the tuit ions sc: lions of w hich are ready to co-operate with him in It is experiment's. ft is not expected that the committee will lie in working order until next year, as administrative duties ui Waimaungn Farm. which has undergone some unfortunate experiences recently through floods, at present occupy a good deal of Mr Dalgliosh’s time. Resides: being keenly interested in top-dressing, the farmers have a traditional interest in pedigree stock. No effort will lie spared to introduce the best strains, and as in the past the exhibition of stud stock from Canterbury at "Westland shows will lie encouraged warmly. The original dairy stock of the West Coast was of a high class, but difficult conditions allowed ii to deteriorate—at least on the one side, although the province boasts of many line hulls. The general opinion is that pig-raising will he a thriving indu-Try once a scheme is devised for cheap, easily portable fences. This is now enjoying the attention of the authorities tit AYaimaiinga farm. The results at the experimental farm and on many private holdings lias won mnoh attention, the value of the pig as a profit earner being well recognised. A display of fifty varieties of grasses grown on bite Coast gave visitors to the. ear a pleasant, reminder of the phenomenal interest* which the West Coast children take in agricultural les-

sons. In this particular display the children of Xgahere School were repre_ sen ted. hut it is not in Xgahere alone that the producer is gladdened by much reassuring evidence that the stiff campaign lie has undertaken will not lack recruits when the time comes for

him to pass on.