MODEL DAIRY FARM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 15 November 1915, Page 3

MODEL DAIRY FARM.

STRATFORD'S CLAIMS. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. A deputation comprising Messrs It. Musters, B. Dingle, E. Jackson, and \V. P. Kirkwood, representing the Stratford A. and P. Association, waited upon the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) at the County Hotel on Friday night, with reference to the establishment of a model dairy farm in this district. The deputation was introduced by the member for the Stratford (Mr J .B. Hine). The first speaker, Mr R. Masters, president of the Association, said the object of acquainting Mr Hanan with the claims of the district in respect to establishing a model dairy farm was that it wes thought the Department of Education might work in unity with the Agricultural Department in the matter, as the interests of both were inseparable. Mr Dingle, as a dairyman of long standing, said it gave him much pleasure in bringing the question of a model dairy farm under the notice of the Minister of Education. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) had. two or three years ago, expressed himself as favorable to the idea. Already, as they knew, they had 2500 acres in experimental farms, namely, at Moumahaki, Weraroa, and Ruakura. Mr Dingle expressed the hope that very soon they might have the opportunity of laying their views before the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald). In his (the speaker's) opinion. Agriculture and Education should join hands in this effort to extend technical education. What the deputation wished to urge, said Mr Dingle, was the establishment of a small dairy farm in Taranaki. say. of 150, acres, 100 of which would be devoted to dairying and 50 acres devoted entirely to experimental purposes. They fully recognised that the experimental part would not pay, but if the 100 acres could not pay 4 per cent, on the labor, the experiments would be no good to .dairymen. Mr Dingle referred to the extensive amount of testing of cows in Taranaki, and said that no one had yet gone in for testing with the object of finding out the most profitable breed of cows. and it was a question that .should be gone into. His idea was that, say 50 acres should bo set aside for one breed and 50 for another, and comparisons could be made of the amount of butter-fat that was taken from each, and the cost of feed, etc., to obtain those results. It would determine the commercial question as to which breed of cow paid the best. What was grown on the experimental plots could be used on the farm, and a. reasonable charge made against the dairying part. Mr Dingle was careful to explain that he had nothing to say against the State farms, but he must say that there was a tremendous lot of .stuff grown and a. tremendous lot of waste. If there was more \ than required, they should remember that the stuff was always saleable. Now, if they could have a model dairy farm in connection with the High School and the plots all in one, that would bo a fine thing, and the A. and P. Association was hoping to get that. As to the State farms, he was of the opinion that it would be better for the Dominion if they were in smaller areas. The State should purchase land and work it under the same conditions as the settlers did in the various parts, and demonstrate to them that they could get more off the land. "You know," said Mr Dingle reminiscently, "some do wonderfully well, but, then, farmers are a bit jealous of one another, and when one gets to hear that another man has