FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 29 May 1909, Page 6

FARM AND DAIRY.

The decision of tine Ministry to set aside a certain area of the Moumahaki State Farm, to he utilised as a reiormatory fcirf, is, in our opinion, most unwfee, as a prison garden is by no means the most valuable purpose to which the Moumalftika grounds could he put (says the ITawera Star). Moumahaka, we hold, i's'not thc p'lavc for a prison farm, simply because Mouinnhiiki can be made to do an Infinitely better .service. Most of the experimental work- that lias been done there has been c xtreffely valuable, especially thatr which deals' with the manuring of root crops, pasturage, and so on. But if a proposal which Mr. Pearee. M.P., advocated prior to the last election were given effect to we are confident thSit Moumahaki would become more valuable still. Mr. Pearce's idea was that the farm should be utilised, perhaps under its present management, m a practical training-ground for fanners of the future. His' estimate was that froff twenty,*}, thirty cadets, say from "sixteen to *veuty years of age. coiil!! Ift. trained there, thus bringing the whole of tile present land into agricultural and pastoral use. Hased upon his practical knowledge, Mr. Pearee forfeit lire Opinion that the farm, besides continuing experimental work, could be made practically self-supporting instead of being, as it fs to-day, more or less' a burden upon the general revenue. If this idea of wfat can be done is even approximately correct, w-c think the Government would be very ill-advised in making the change they propose. Instead of that they should convert the farm into a farm college. Throughout this province there has been developed a strong sentimental and practical ""regard for Mnunisihnki, and now tb'at Hie farm is associated m the minds of the people as' a centre of instruction, it would indeed be a pity if the good that litis been done were wilfully undone. If converted into a practical college the organisation which exists to-day could he fully nvnilcil of'and- the work so far accomplished would extend and proceed naturally.

The fenner ffanager of the Hawera Dairy Company, Mr. Curie, is becoming a. cheese factory proprietor, liaving de" cided to eSlabTTsh a factory to cater to discontented suppliers of the Mere Mer' Dairy Company.

The supervisor of co-operative expertof the Department in this island, Mr. CI. de ISayliss', as arranging w-tli' farmers in the Master'ton district to conduct experiments in connection with the. growing of oats and wheat. The seed has been procured by the Department froff Sweden. Kussiii. Canada, and Australia,

A farmer. Mr. A. llni-ir of Wavcrlcv was very emphatic at the Eketahuna conference in rcgan; u, the methods of valuing land in < in,... "M v f„,. m » he said, "is valued „| £25 an acre, and that is fair; w,\ I unl only allowed £5 an acre for improvements—that is d . We broke in the land in the day* of tire Maori wars, and I have lived on it continuously ever since paving all manner of taxes and assisting in many ways to promote the interest's of the district. Xow the Government has the cheek to say the unimproved value of inv land is £2O. It is simply blackmail, ' We .are heinb robbed."

A Wellington farmer wlio recently visficd tlie Wailvalo declares that the greatest enemy to the northern country lias been the indifferent farter. It was Hip usual thing, lie says, to sow only a.bout 151b of seed to the acre, with the result tKit weeds soon gained possession of the land. >"ow the southern farmers who have sejfled iiiMlle district nave set the needed example. Tliey haw sown 501b to 001b to the acre, and a splendid swarf! IKrT resulted.