FARM METHODS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4808, 9 February 1925, Page 3

FARM METHODS.

visitors criticism. AN OFFICIAL REJOINER. Officials of the Department of Agriculture are by no means satisfied with the relevancy or fairness, of the criticism of New Zealand’s farming methods indulged in by Mr Breakwell, principal of the Yanco (N.S.W.) Agricultural High Schoo], on his return to Sydney. Mr Breakwell’s criticism, that cropping was not satisfactorily carried our, and that there was a lack of cooperation between the farmer and the department, especially in the matter of experimental plots, led to a rejoiner from a senior officer of the department. “Mr Breakwell,’’ he said, “is re? ported to have been in the farming districts of the North Island. The North Island is not juoted for cropping, the farming practised being almost entirely of the grass-farming type The South Island is the part of New Zealand where cropping is much to the fore. Had no visited that island he would have found much of interest and also seen that agriculture is carried out on the most modem lines. At least he would learn that it is carried out on dines that insulted in crop yield averages far in excess of those obtained in New South Wales.

“Sg far as co-operation between the ordinary farmer and the Department of Agriculture, in the matter of experimental plots, is concerned, much has been accomplished, but, except in cereal and root crop growing, the experimental plot system is not altogether satisfactory, owing tv the tenure of the ground not always being secure enough, due, of 'coure, mainly to fin ms changing hands. The cooperative experimental plot has, : n recent years, been replaced by : (1) Smali experimental or demonstration areas in selected districts, the results obtained being applicable to considerable areas of the surrounding country ; and (2) by the appointment .of travelling instructors in agriculture. Further than this,: the co-operative experimental plot has in some districts been replaced by farmers’ field competitions, particularly in regard to the growing of fodder crops and with regard to that type of co-opera-tive work that may be described as crop demonstration work. In the South Island, that js, in the cropping bcF, co-operative experimentation is still largely undertaken, and on the most modern and improved lines. The main point of interest in North Island agriculture is the skilful manipulation "and utilisation of grass land. New Zealand grass land farming is on a plane far above that of other countrieo. and in top-dressing, pasture maintenance, and pasture renewal. New Zealand offers /a’ type of farming that could well be copied in many other parts of the world. This, view w.as also expressed quite recently by the agricultural delegation from Wisconsin University that visited the Dominion.