EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 174, 10 December 1912, Page 5

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

LARGE OR SMALL ARRAS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Auckland executive of the Farmers' Union has recently been discussing the question of co-operative field experiments, and has decided to ask union branches to give the matter consideration. The Department of Agriculture has also been requested to send particulars relating to the conduct of such experiments. Northern farmers have apparently been rather slow to take advantage of the assistance that has been given to farmers for the ; past four or five years, in the way of individual experimental plots in the various districts. Last year there were no fewer than four thousand .co-operative experiments in progress throughout the Dominion, and elaborate tables have been published from time to time setting out the results that have been gathered. In the ".Journal" published by the Department the conditions governing field experiments are clearly set out, and fanners wishing to follow up research wilh any special variety of seed or manure are invited to approach the authorities so that their requests may be put into effect as early M possible. In some localities the opinion has been expressed that a small demonstration plot, set aside at a central spot such as the one at Marton, 'would serve a better purpose than a larger number of plots scattered all over t'nc country. Mr. Clifton, director of the Fields Division, expressed the opinion that the individual plot is likely to produce the best result, because the farmer Tinder whose direct supervision the experiment is conducted, understands every detail of that particular experiment, and is likely to put the knowledge thus gained into practice, besides communicating his experience to his neighbors. Where larger demonstrations of a more general nature are made, experience so fin- has shown that, as a rule, farmers do not visit the experimental areas in any considerable numbers.

DEPUTATION TO MR. MASSEY.

Timaru, Last Night. The Prime Minister, bound north, stayed here a couple of hours between trains, and was entertained a luncheon and congratulated on the victory of his party. .Mr. Massey was interviewed bv Mr. R. L. Orbell. on behalf of the A. and P. Associations! and the Farmers' Union, and asked when lie could inspect a dozen or so farms offered for experimental farms in South Canterbury. Mr. Massey replied that he could not go into the matter just now. He would be down again in March, and would have time then to go into it. He said that Canterbury would get at least one experimental farm (three were asked for). The North Island experimental farms' had been a rank failure financially, but Canterbury and Otago had different conditions, farming being therv highly developed.