Taranaki Agricultural Society.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7924, 13 September 1905, Page 2

Taranaki Agricultural Society.

A general meeting of members of the Taranaki Agricultural Society was held at the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening', to hear and discuss a report from Mr G. V. Tate, the Society's delegate to the Agricultural Conference. The President (Mr Newton King') was in the chair, and there were about thirty persons present.

The President, in his introductory remarks, regretted the small attendance and the inattention shown by the townspeople. Tho Society had been lying dormant for some time, but it had mow entered upon a more energetic career. After referring to the improvement in the prize schedule, he went on to urge the necessity that exists for generally adopting a system of testing the cows in the district. He thought sooner or later this innovation would be made. Those dairymen! who were now '...'scratching the soil," as it were, would bo compelled to bring into force a proper mode of testing cows. There were some cows being milked In this district that were not worth milking. This was a matter that should be made a major plank In tho Society's platform. In conclusion, the OTiairman mentioned that over forty new members would be elected at the next meeting of the Society. Mr Tate gave a most instructive resume of the business of the Conference, briefly touching on the fiftytwo subjects contained on tho notice paper. Noxious i weeds on Crown and nativo lands had been discussed, and Mr Tato said he took the opportunity in) the presence of th» Minister for Agriculture to rub Into him the fact of the undesirable existence of large areas of native lands in Taranaki which should be yielding butter fat instead'of being a wilderness and a''hot bfcd| for noxious weeds. Mr Kirk had read a paper on potatoes, stating' that crops would be attacked more virulently than in preceding years, and that syringing would be the growers' only salvation. The Governmeot was getting out a couple of Bpraying; machines, capable of dealing effectively with 30 acres a day each. Agricultural education in rural dlstricti on systematic lines was strongly supported, the idea being to appoint lour instructors to tour the rural districts, instructing teachers and generally encouraging the children in agricultural pursuits. Instruction in the best) methods of butter and cheese making was advocated. Mr Gilruth had promised to send competent officers or to attend gatherings of farmers himself to give information in veterinary subjects. The importance of making provision for winter feed was emphasised, especially for a dairying centre like Taranaki, and Mr Tate suggested tho topic as one for future discussion by the Society. He was of opinion that strict measures should be adopted ta ensure to, farmers seed free from noxious weed seed. The list recently brought into force would no -doubt have a deterrent effect against unscrupulous merchants. The Department undertaking the improvement of the dairy herds in the colony by instruction was a subject on which Mr Gilruth read a paper of interest, a recommendation being passed to forward to the Department a strong plea on the matter. He believed the Department was in a position to accomplish much in improving dairy herds and the conditions under which they were kept. The farmers wanted educating as to the West stocki ioi dairying, on breeding, rearing, and later maintenance of the herd, so as to get the best results. A groat many other subjects wero touched upon by Mr Tate, who at the close answered a number of 'questions. In the course of general discussion, Mr Tate' remarked upon the primitive methods of farming in Taranaki as compared with other districts he had visited. With proper treatment of the soil, and the use of manures, he believed the soil here could bq made to produce almost anything. Cattle grazing took more out of the soil than any cropping, and change was necessary. The President moved that Captain Voting be requested to give an address to farmers and others on his scheme for establishing a model farm, the proposal meeting with hearty support.

The motion was seconded by Mr Okey, and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Aminiry, it was decided to advise the executive committee to nrrango meetings at various centres of the district for the purpose of 'discussing 'agricultural matters, to create interest in the Society ami its objects.

The President moved a vote of thanks to Mr Tate, which was heartily carried. Mr Tate agreed to the suggestion to write papers on some of the uuore important subjects touched on.