SWEDE-GROWING COMPETITION.

Shannon News, 7 October 1921, Page 3

SWEDE-GROWING COMPETITION.

eighteen ENTRIES RECEIVED,

The Levin Dairy Company has been quite justified in initiating the swedegrowing competition its suppliers, and the 18 entries received is a good augury for the future of such activities. The competition will provide useful knowledge to numbers of other farmers in the, district, so that when next year’s event comes round, and the benefits of the competition are fully realised, there should be a big increase in the, list of entrants. The object of the innovation is one that should appeal to every farmer—that of encouraging better agriculture in order to get increased production. This has an important bearing on the whole district, and for that reason it is hoped that the results of, the present competition will fully repay those taking part and prov ( e an incentive to others to compete in future seasons. The entries' received are as : follows: H. Lancaster, Fairfield. A. Hudson, Fairfield. A. J. Edginton, Arapaepae Road Extension. . A. J. Laing, Bruce Road, Weraroa. Armstrong 8r05.,. Ihakara. - ■ Jas. Prouse Estate, Queen Street, Levin. , ( S. Broadbelt, Ihakara. Mrs Ward, Wallace Road; Ihakara. B. Butt, Arapaepae Road. R. Butt.'Potts’ Road, Ihakara. Todd and Oakley, Potts’ Road, Ihakopa. ' 1 - W. Tye, Arapaepae Road. R. A. Rolston, Ohau. A. J. .Rolston, Ohau. A. S. Death, Muhunoa East. Bradftejd Bros., Ihakara. R. Gilmour, Koputaroa, Road. H. Dyer, Gladstone Road. Commenting on the value of field competitions, Mr J. W. Deem, field instructor, of Wanganui, states that in hfs district last season good numbers of farmers turned out to accompany the judges and see the different crops. By so doing they were enabled to intelligently discuss’ the merits and demerits of the crops judged. This phase of the work was of great educative value. The great benefit to be derived from the competitors accompanying the judges from farm to farm cannot be too strongly emphasised, and unless they were prepared/to do that it was hardly worth while starting competitions. Farmers’ social meetings for the distribution of prizes provide a further opportunity of bringing the judges ahd farmers together and discussing the points brought out by the competitions. The strongest feature in the competitions generally was the way in which they have shown the. benefits to be derived from early ploughing and thorough cultivation. Specially was "this the case with the mangold and carrot crops. With these crops after-cultivation had proved, of far more importance than manure. In some instances competitors had increased their manure and given less cultivation, with the result that their crops had been very indifferent.