MOUMAHAKI STATE FARM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 16 April 1912, Page 4

MOUMAHAKI STATE FARM.

AND WHAT THE DAIRY FARMERS WOULD LIKE. Yesterday some sixty farmers visited the Moumohaki State Farm, were very hospitably entertained there, and were very favourably impressed with what they saw, especially with regard to the experiments in fodder plants. This morning a representative of tho "Stratford Evening Post" was told by two gentlemen who made the tripmat the general consensus of opinion was that the State Farm, while exceedingly useful, did not quite fulfil tiie requirenn uts of the dairy farmer. For instance, the farm has only one breed of cattle—Ayrshires. Some of these were very fine animals, and they included tho hull that was specially purchased for the Government by Mr Lunlop, one of tiic Scottish Commissioners, and there was no question that so far as it went, the Farm was doing excellent work, but they wanted something more. They wanted a farm in central Taranaki, trcratford would probably be the most suitable place, where experiments could be made with. the various breeds of cattle. In -their opinion the time iiad arrived when the Government should launch out and give the dairy farmers an experimental farm, where expeiimcnts might be made with all breeds of cattle so as to produce animals tiiat would give the best results from the butterfat point of view. Land had readied a high value, and people could not afford to stock any class of animal than that which did not give good results. On the Farm they were milking ten cows, and had some seven Ayrshire bulls. Among the horses was a splendid Clydesdale two-year-old. This was a beautifully grown animal, and had fine points, conformation, and action. But the main feature of the Farm was the experiments in fodder plants, kale, silver beet, red beet, rape, lucerne, etc. Probably the most remarkable thing of all was the experiment with lucerne. Two beds were placed side by side. In one was a flourishing plot of lucerne, thick as oats • and Standing over a foot high. It had' already been cut twice this season. Alongside was another plot, but the lucerne had practically failed, and there was a poor growth of about two ■inches in height. The difference between the two was due solely to a process of innoculation. This means that some of the soil in which the seed was originally groAvn (it comes from Australia) had been placed with the seed in tiie soil. We understand that the Government will be pleased to supply farmers who are growing lucerne with this Australian soil. Another series of interesting experiments with regard to the capabilities of manures. One and a quarter acres of land were devoted to each manure, and seven sheep were run on each piece of land so manured. Tho cost of the manure, weight of the sheep and increase they made, etc., were noted, so that the final result might be ascertained. One of the gentlemen stated that from what lie gathered, basic slag was giving the best results. The visitors expressed their admiration of the excellent manner in which tue Farm was kept, and were much pleased at the courtesy shown them by Mr Lonsdale and his staff, who also very kindly entertained the visitors at luncheon and afternoon tea. During the latter, the President of the A. and P. Association, Mr W. P. Kirkwood, thanked Mr Lonsdale for his kindness, and expressed the pleasure and education they had derived from the visit to the Moumohaki State Farm.