IMPROVING FARMING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 6

IMPROVING FARMING

SUCCESS OF THE JERSEY. WORK OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. (From our Stratford Reporter). At the Jersey banquet the other evening, >lr. A. H. Halcombe, in proposing the success of the Stratford A. and P. Association, said that all those who had had the pleasure of attending the last annual show at Stratford must have realised that the Stratford show was to be . the best show of this end of Taranaki. Not only -were they welcomed and their stock met, paddoeked and cared for, but after the show the exhibitors were helped in getting their stock away. This was a matter often of considerable trouble and worry to the exhibitors. Not only were the officials courteous and enthusiastic, but every man in the town took an interest in the Association. That was the way to make a show "go." He understood many exhibitors had written to the Association promising to return on account of this fine treatment, and he was sure the coming show would he bigger and better than ever. It was said, of course, that a new show always went well for a start, but that interest lagged after a while. But, so long as the people in town and country recognised that it was to their interest to back up the Association, so long must the show go and increase and prosper. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, the president of the A. and P. Association, cordially I thanked Mr. Halcombe for his kindly remarks, and said that by the co-operation i of exhibitors and officials the show was to be made a bigger show each year, whilst the support of the townspeople vsas a very gladdening feature. The entries for their last show —the second held in Stratford —were 2250, or only 200 j short of the entries at the big show in | Palmerston North, which was something > to be proud of. Mr, Kirkwood also re- J ferred to the efforts of the Association j to have a model dairy farm established by the Government in the vicinity of | Stratford, owing to Stratford's central- j ity. It was the aim of the Stratford j A. and P. Association to make this the premier dairy show of the Dominion, and as Stratford was the centre of dairying this was not too much to work and 'hope for. Apart from the show, which was in itself an education, they felt that the Association should try to assist the man on the land in every possible direction. This was the aim of the present executive, and 110 doubt any succeeding executive would feel similarly on the matter. 'Up to the present the land in Taranaki had not been really fanned, but onlv grazed. It was only in the last few years that the high price of land had compelled more intense cultivation. It i had been impossible up till then, for only 30 years ago this was standing bush. In the far past they had not had tip-top pedigree stock in Taranaki, but latterly farmers had gone in for pedigree stock. It was also essential to see that the stock was well fed. Well-bred stock ! would not do its best unless well fed. I An excess of feed was better than a j shortage, and such a condition would ( make the province more productive than I had been 111 the case of the slipshod methods in the past. He assured the visitors that on any future visit they ] would receive a hearty welcome from the 1 people of Stratford and its vicinity. Mr. McLeunon (Papakura) proposed "The Department of Agriculture." It i was necessary that the State Department of Agriculture should be a really live ; department, so as to show farmers 'how J to obtain the best results from the workj ing of the land, especially in view of its ihigh price and the >high prices that had to be paid for stock. Proper tillage of the land was essential. The Department j of Agriculture had done, good work. In the Auckland district they had capable and willing officers, and the experimental farm was a real educative centre. He commended to his hearers the example of co-operation shown by the farmers and townspeople of the Stratford district, and they should endeavor, too, to 1 co-operate with the Agricultural Department. He eulogised the sound practical advice given by Mr. Fulton, an officer of the Department, and the practical knowledge and enthusiasm of Mr. Deem for the Jerseys. He thought the Department should not try to "boom" any breed, but to demonstrate the comparaive butter-fat production of the different breeds under like conditions. If I that were done the Jersey men had no , fear.

Mr. J. W. Deem, who said he was present as the delegate of the Wanganui branch, and not as an officer of the Department, thanked the proposer for 'his eulogistic remarks concerning the Department, and said that in his opinion the Jersey breed must "come out on top" throughout the Dominion. He had long ! fought to have the different breeds herded together and their yields compared. If this were done he would stake his reputation that the Jersey would win. Some of the Taranaki farmers were to blame for the Department not taking up Jerseys sufficiently, for many of them complained bitterly when the Department started to get a good Jersey herd together. The Holstein men did not take that stand—hence the predominance of the Holstein at one of the farms. ! Mr. C. N. Fulton, dairy inspector, hop- | ed the feeling between the farmers and j the officers of the Department would conI fcinue to be cordial, and this would obtain so long as the Department sent out men who knew their work. It was a mistake, however, to expect the officers of tho Department to know everything. He had even been called upon to judge fifteen babies at a show. (Laughter). He did not think the head of the Department would ever in the future send out men who were not experts in their own branch of the servise. He put in a word for more kindly handling of the dairy cows on the farm, much as the fanciers treated them. They should be quiet, and it would pay the fanner handsomely in £ s. d.