STATE FARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1916, Page 2

STATE FARMS.

yiEWS OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, SUGGESTED SALES OF FARM LANDS, The Board of Agriculture, which was established to advise the Government in regard to matters concerning the development of agriculture, has submitted a long report upon the State experimental farms of the Dominion. All these institutions were visited, and it is apparent that the Board always had in mind the possibility of economically providing for the requirements of the South Island, which is admittedly short of : these valu-' able aids to agriculture. In brief, it is proposed to remedy the deficiency by selling surplus areas of North Island experimental farms, and applying the proceeds for the purchase of lands for State farms in Canterbury, Otago and probably the West Coast of the South Island, in accordance with a ministerial promise to that effect. What the report says on this subject is:—"lf the recommendations are carried out, there would probably be something like £50,000 realised from the sale of the land. This money should be devoted to the purchase of two farms of, say, 200 acres each, one in the agricultural distriat of Canterbury, and another in South Otago or Southland, as the soil and climate of these two districts are quite different." "■ is pointed out by /the Board that the carrying :;•*■ of commercial fanning on any of its weii-kr.c—•> and widely adopted lines should not be the work of an experimental' farm. Farming is divided into branches, and the specialists attain to the best practice in each line. The work of the specialists in any of the known branches of {arming can seldom, if ever, be equalled by an experimental farm Nor should the State farms be expected to show a profit "It would be as reasonable to expect a primary school giving free education to show by a profit and loss account, a profit balance, as to expect a profit balance from an experimental farm," declares the Board. "We should expect only from them what we should expect from our schools—namely, that they should be economically ' and efficiently run. The profit lies in the increased production which results from investigation. The Board seeks to disclaim, any wish to criticise past mistakes, but it candidly remarks in the report: "The objective and policy of treats-farms lias never been clearly laid down, and there Have been so many Ministers with various views as to what should be at : tempted that constant change have left much ground for criticism." ■■■ CUTTING UP THE FARMS. In detailing their suggested plana for the existing experimental farms, the Board suggests that Ruakura, which has Oil acres, should be retained iji'-its entirety, and the farm placed under the management of a. trained professional man. The stud sheep should be sold—the day lias gone past when it is necessary to retain stud sheep on an experimental farm—and the. lllawnrra, and Shorthorn breeds be specialised there.. The- horticultural station of 97 acres at Tauranga should be retained, as it has not been proved whether the district is suitable for fruitgrowing. At Momnahaki, on the West Coast of the North Island, there are 1585 acres. The Board thinks that the homestead and 200 acres should be retained for experiments, especially in grassing, but the remainder should be sold. That portion of the Arataki experimental station of 70 acres in Hawke's Bay, which lias been used for vine-grow-ing should be sold, states the report, but land should be retained for experiments in drought-resisting plants for grazing purposes.

Weraroa, in the Manawatu, wiili its 800 acres of fine land, offers the most tempting opportunity of raising money. The land, says the report, ia of excellent quality, too good for experimental .purposes, and in the midst of a populous and thriving dairying district. It was stated to visiting members of the. Board that this farm could be sold at £OO to £O3 per acre. The farm should be retained, as it is. quite possible that it will be required in the future for educational purpose* but the land is .so valuable, and the area so large that it would not be necessary to retain the whole of it, especially as money is required for farms in the South Island. The sale of 400 acres in the outlying portions of the farm is therefore recommended. . In connection with the Government's scheme of placing settlers on areas planted in fruit trees, the Te Kauwhata farm, in the Waikato, has been reduced in size of recomt years. The report, l'owever, suggests that the Government has not been selling this land at a payable price, and very careful consideration should be given to this before the land is disposed of. The Board recommends planting varieties of apple suitable for export, and .pears, which are known to suit the district and the market. The whole farm might then be disposed of, and the fundi? devoted to fruit farms in suitable districts. FRUIT FARMS. On this question of fruit farms, the report suggests the establishment of thrco small fruit farms, one north of Auckland, "which is going to be a great fruit«rowing district," one in Nelson, and another in Central Otago. These would be in the midst of fruitgrowing districts, and the associated fruit-grow-ers would advise as to the direction in which experiments are necessary. Fifty acres each would be ample for these farms. '■-Fruitgrowing for export is in ita ■ infancy in New Zealand, and bids fair to become of first-class importance in the Dominion. We sherefore emphasise the necessity of at once proceeding with these farms."