AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 541, 26 May 1933, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT

VERY INSTRU CTIVE DISPLAY The exhibition made by the Agricultural Department was one which righifly had the keen attention of farmers. It did not offer much from a spectacular point of view — there were only photographs and grass plots to. be seen but the whole had an educational value which could not be cheaply estimated. Those plots of grass provided a fine lesson in pasture cult-ivation which it would pay the farmers of pumice lands to carefully learn. They were cut from pastures in different stages of cultivation to provide practical illustrations of the methods adopted to "bring in" pumice coun'try. In the first instance these samples of turf showed temporary pasture at the stage for breaking up to lay down permanenb pasture and subsequently the establishment of the permanent grass. Another aample showed pasture brought in straight from the first furrow and others gave most interesting proof of growth attained in six months, one year, and two and a-half years. It was evident, however, that initial establishment was more rapid if the seed was sown after temporary pasture, or a root crop1. The temporary pasture turfs, represented a good growth of Italian rye grass, red clover and a light establishment of eocksfoot and the following turf of two years later showed a cocksfootclover pasture ready for ploughing in. Still another example was given of securing a cheap, quick teihporary pasture of red clover and eocksfoot sown. with a turnip crop. The position of clovers on pumice land is important as they grow very quickly and improve the fertility of the soil, but in permanent pastures this vigorous growth must be adequately controlled t0 prevent it smothering permanent rye and white clover. Turf showed red clover wellcontrolled, and there were specimens "showing where clovers had been allow ed to become ranlc and vigorous and smother out the rye. It was also shown that the permanent pasture mixture without red clover would form a good turf but did not yield much bulk in feed for the first two years. A series of turfs illustrating the value of true perennial rye as against shoi't-lived strains of rye, covering a period of several years, showed that the latter strain went out in a little over two years, whereas the true perennial rye showed quite ,a good pasture at the end of the period. Illustrations also proved that where proper top-dressing had been neglected the pastures went back to inferior gi'asses in a few years. Another section of the .exhibits of much' value to the farmers was the practical illustration of the limonite treatment for malnutrition in stock. Photographs were shown of the exper.ments made at Humphries' Atiamuri station with a group of sheep. The results attained by the use of limonite in this experiment have been fully explained in the "Post" in previous issues, but the photographs giving the unquestionable evidence of success had not been displayed publicly before. The stock department also exhibited some instruetive illustrations of parasites and diseases in animals. POINTS PRIZES The points prizes in the vaidous sections were won as follows. — Field Produce. — (Sutton Cup): H. M. Martin, 51pts, 1; A. L. Matchett, 39pts, 2; Mrs. Morrison 12pts, 3. H. M. Martin won the cup in 1930 and 1931. Baking. — Mrs. Holden, 98pts, 1; Mrs. D. Bryce, 60pts, 2; Mrs. A. Williams, 34pts, 3. Garden Produce. — J. Pennington, 76pts, 1; J. Moule, 5-lpts, 2; J. Denyer, 42pts, 3. Jams and Bottled Fruits. — Mrs. Beaufill, 149pts, 1; Miss E. Morrison, 146pts, 2; Mrs. J. Peebles, 92pts, 3. Needlework. — Mrs. Newson, 47pts, 1; Miss A. Smerdon 28pts, 2; Miss McCutchen, 24pts, 3. SPECIAL PRIZES POULTRY SECTION Utility Types. — Black Orpington. — E. J. Taylor. White Leghorn. — Mrs. M. L. Douglas, and Ladies' Bracelet and best bird in show. Rhode Island Red, (hen or pullet). T. J. Bates. Rhode Island Red (cock or cockerel) — T. J. Bates. Siiver Wyandotte (hen or pullet), — W. Bish. Siiver Wyandotte (cock or cockerel). — W. Bish. Novice Classes Utility cockerel.— Musgrave. Utility Hen. — K. Bennett. Utility Duck or Drake. — E. Yeates Heavy Hen (fancy). — J. Dawson. Heavy Cock (fancy).— E. J. Taylor Lightbreed Cock. — Mrs. E. Ansell. Lightbreed Hen. — W. Bish. Bantam. — Miss D. Herberts. Game Bird (fancy). — A. J. Macdermott.