RUNCIMAN

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 270, 27 April 1917, Page 4

RUNCIMAN

MODEL FARMS

(By our travelling Reporter.) In some districts, and especially on tho Pukekohe East road towards Runciman, there is every indication to confirm the saying that success is often contagious. Whenever a farmer takes a real pride in keeping his holding clean, up-to-date, and uniformally smart, it not unfrequently happens that his neighbour emulates his example. This is certainly true in tho cases where the writer visited farms a few days ago. Mr M. F..Ballard, who is acknowledged to be "a good farmer" by the agricultural community, generally takes such a pride in his place that "as for blackberry and other noxious weeds," ho remarked to the writer, "I will give anyone a shilling for each plant he can find and I guarantee he won't make a day's wages " While he is by no means what may be termed a dairy farmer his herd of seven cows return an average 4.3 test. About his milking shed, too, there is the same tidiness in every detail. The home made louver lights placed in convenient positions in that shed are but an illustration of thought and care which this farmer shows in every phase of his holding. These wooden lights are so arranged that bp shifting the centre stave they can be adjusted either for air or as a protection against wet and cold. Anyone desirous of fixing similar lights at their farm should call on Mr Ballard who would bo pleased to show them in actual use. They are worthy of inspection. \

All the adjacent farm of Mr W. H. Newcombo where a New Zealandia three cow plant milking machine (for which Mr Frank Perkins is the local agent) had been recently installed, the owner, who takes a unique pride both in his stock and farm generally, is more than pleased with his milking plant. At the time of our representatives'.? visit the engine—an excellent Mogul hp. machine—was being started. Benzine is used for starting, while a tin of kerosene afterwards will keep up the running for upwards of 36 hours. Watching the cows enter their bails they appeared to rather enjoy the milking, and on examining the udder the writer found the teats cool and healthy without any sign of "dragging." .With tliis machine about oO cows are milked in an hour. One advantago of this especially favourite machine is that the rubber meets the udder, the teat being cooled and the cup sustained by the regular pulsating action—9l beats to the minute—of the vaccum pump. The milk, too, commences to flow as soon as the cups are affixed and this continues until the cow is nearly dry. It should be mentioned thai the door in front of the cowbail has the rather unique advantage that you pull, and not push, it to open. This is provided with a blocked back to which is attached a guiding rod. When the writer enquired the builder of the shed and the door in question it was none other than Mr M. F. Ballard before referred to. Of Mr Newcombe's cows, which number 30, they are principally Shorthorn-Jer-sey of a good roomy typo with well veined udders—he has no small cows, his Jerseys being of a rather large type. Like his near neighbour, Mr M. F. Ballard, he has a farm of perfect cleanliness for, said Mr Newcombe, "the placo is absolutely clear of noxious weeds." Mr Newcombe, like many other farmers, finds by careful management that pigs pay well. He has a Berkshire boar which took first prize at the recent Auckland and Pukekohe shows, while the latest addition to his pedigree stock was a six months old Shorthorn bull purchased from a well known breeder, Mr J. Taylor, of Taupiri. In addition to his splendid gras3 crops Mr Newcombe has a small but fine crop of (Gallon's Superlative) swedes, while the garden surrounding his house with its concrete paths and flowering shrubs all indicate that thoroughness, and not carelessnesss, is the farmer's sign of deserving prosperity. While there is a dislike in some quarters to so called "model farms," as being largely of a theoretical nature, in the particular area under review there aro proof that the farms referred to are senibly and practically managed and ideal in every way. Such farms aro not only a credit to their owners but a pleasure to inspect at any time and add to the reputation of the district.