SALVATION ARMY’S ENTERPRISE

Lake County Mail, Issue 10, 30 July 1947, Page 9

SALVATION ARMY’S ENTERPRISE

Breaking In New Land Near Putamm

A little known activity of the Salvation Army is represented by its 2400acre farm property of Hodderville at Putarurn. For 25 years now the Salvation Army has been farming this property under a programme of gradual development and it bears little resemblance to-day to the rough area it was when the work started. The potentialities of the semi-pumice country in the Putaruru area were not realised 25 years ago, but the Army authorities were not deterred by the difficult task confronting them, and to-day their policy is certainly bearing fruit. The Army was not able to undertake any spectacular programme to bring all the land in within a short space of time but with the limited labour available gradually brought the land' into cultivation until now practically half of the area has been broken in, the remainder standing in the original scrub. However, it is intended to accelerate the programme of development in the future, at the same time endeavouring to improve the equipment and facilities with the object of again undertaking comprehensive farm training for boys leaving school. At present there are 00 school boys in residence on the property, where there is also a Government school. Growing of Grain

The growing of grain has been a major activity at Hodderville, and this season 25 acres of wheat and HO acres of barley were harvested, while 40 acres were shut up for, small seeds, including white clover and lotus major. Although wheat was grown fairly extensively by the Maoris and pioneer settlers in the central Waikato in the early days of the district, it is not a crop that has featured on Waikato farming programmes for very many years. The successful growing of grain on the Hodderville property has demonstrated that wheat can be grown as a practical proposition on the light Putaruru country.

During these days of feed shortages the pioneering work being performed by the Salvation Army in the growing of grain at Putaruru has had added significance. Despite some damage by frost, a yield of 40 bushels to the acre was obtained this season, and last year a yield of 07 bushels to the acre was obtained. A ready local market is found for the wheat and some is used on the property for feeding poultry. Cross 7 and Tainui varieties of wheat have been sown, but it is hoped to sow other varieties to ascertain the most suitable type for the area. Both these varieties were developed by the Wheat Research Institute at Christchurch in conjunction with Lincoln College. Samples were sent from Hodderville to the institute last year for baking tests and the reports were excellent, the bread made from the samples being ideal. The moisture content was as low as 12 per cent., whereas the milling requirement is 15 per cent. Header Harvester

In charge of the Hodderville property is Brigadier H. Rive, with whom is associated Adjutant H. Hill, both formerly South Island men. The Army is fortunate in the calibre of the men they have at Hodderville, and Adjutant Hill, who is concerned more with the field work on the property, has little labour to depend on. The harvesting equipment provided rather a surprise for some "visitors to the property recently, as a header harvester was seen in operation in the wheat fields, a machine that is rather a novelty for the Waikato and which has opened up new possibilities in the district. Adjutant Hill, however, considers that cooperative machinery pools would be necessary to run this type of machine in the district as it would not be an economic unit on an average dairy farm. In order to combat the weed problem rotational cropping is carried out, one rotation being swedes, then wheat and finally back to pasture. A building-up

crop such as lupins is often included in the programme. Only a few dairy cattle are carried on the property at present because of the previous trouble with ragwort, but it is hoped to build up the herd again as the land is cleaned up by the rotational cropping. Sheep are carried on the property, and this year 2800 ewes will be put to the rams. There are also 400 wethers l and about 90 Polled Angus breeding cows for pasture control. Excellent quality fat lambs of high average weight were turned off the property this season.