THE FARMING YEAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 2 January 1913, Page 4

THE FARMING YEAR.

The ‘New Zealand Times,’ in an article dealing with the year as regards farming, remarks on the steady progress made and on the buoyant outlook for the coming twelve months. Our contemporary goes on to say; The great work undertaken by the State in providing and equipping experimental and demonstration stations is now beginning to bear fruit, and old customs that were, formerly accepted are giving way to the enlightened and progressive practices that are being so well demonstrated in every direction. The directors, with their staffs, con-

trolling the various divisions under the, control of the Department of Agriculture have by their persistent elforts firmly established confidence between themselves and the agriculturist, so that every year marks an advance in the method employed on the 1111(1 dairy factory. The rising generation are out of the old rut made by custom, and respect the work of farm husbandry as a profession. It is not now so much a matter of how many acres, but how much production per, acre; not how many cows, but what yield per cow. Stock-owners are learning that it pays to keep fewer numbers of sheep and cattle and feed them properly, and to make their calculations on the individual merit of each unit. It is impossible at this] time to make more than a casual mention of the good results that are following the work of the experimental farms, cow-testing, pasteurisation of milk, stock inspection, and the main other directions where the State is giving farmers a lead; but it is a most hopeful sign for the future that the lines of progress laid down arcbeing accepted and followed. Although some impatience is often expressed that the farmer does not move quickly enough to suit the man who is not on the land, it is evident that substantia' progress is being shown every year, and that the agricultural development of the colintry is in good hands.