MODEL DAIRY FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1916, Page 3

MODEL DAIRY FARM.

fOR STRATFORD DISTRICT, WVFEHEXCE OF DELEGATES. Stratford, Saturday. A conference of delegates was held in the Stratford A. and P. Association offico this afternoon, iwhen there were present: Messrs F. Ranford (Stratford Dairy Co.), W. S. Kedgewcll and P. J. 'Peterson (Midhirst Dairy Co.), W. Morion and W. Orr (Ngacrc Dairy Co.), W. If. Were (Stratford County Council),R. '.Masters (Taranaki Education Board), J. B. Richards (Chamber of Commerce), J. W. Boon (Stratford Borough Council), R. McK. Morison (Farmers' Union), E. Jackson (Stratford A. and 'P. Association), R. Dingle (Board of Agriculture), and Messrs J. Shotter, T. Ranford, C. Jackson (members of the executive of the A. and P. Association).

Mr. E. Jackson, 011 .behalf of the Stratford A. and P. Association, in welcoming the delegates, said he felt the meeting was the most important one ever held in the history of Stratford. For some considerable time the executive of tile A. and P. Association had been in touch with the Minister of Agriculture and Departmental officers with a view to establishing a model dairy farm in this district. They had suggested to the Minister that the farm should have an area of about 150 acres, 100 acres of which to be used for dairying purposes, where the milk could be weighed, tested, and proper records kept of the various breeds, and the .balance of 50 acres used for experimental purposes, where farmers and their sons could visit and see the various experiments carried out, and also see the practical results froir file use of different manures, which would be an education to them. He thought the time was now opportune t( make a start, and the Minister of Agriculture had expressed himself iu sympathy with the object. The present experimental farm at Moiunaliaki, was too far ar.\ay to be of any practical use. The present proposal was to lease a farm, and they had a property in view, just adjoining the borough, and it could lie leased 011 very easy terms. He felt sure that if the farm was managed by a board of experienced farmers, and run 011 proper scientific lines, it would pay. The Government was prepared to subsidise their efforts to tile extent of £4OO per annum. The idea of establishing the farm at Stratford was that Stratford was the centre of the, dairy district in Taranaki, and was easy of access to farmers living both north anil south of Stratford. They did not expect the experimental portion of the farm to pay, but the information gained through .experiments would be most useful to farmers, and would iiiore than recoup any loss that might 'be incurred. They would have noticed that the Government had decided to establish two such farms in the South Island, and it was time this district made a start, and he felt sure that onee'the farm was in working--order it would be a benefit to every farmer in the district. Mr. R. Masters said he did not intend to view the establishment of the farm from a farmers' point of Yiew, but from an educational one, and if a portion of the farm was set aside for school purposes he felt sure the instruction* gained would be of benefit to the lads who purposes following farming pursuits. Regarding the Moumahaki Staie Farm, the experiments were 'of very little use in this district, because the t d and climatic conditions were different. Getting a. model farm was not a new idea. It had been mooted some four years ago. What was wanted was a farm right in the centre of Taranaki. Thev wanted to keep the young fellows from the towns and cities, and they had to make it attractive for them to go ill for farming. He thought there was too much cram at school that was little good to the pupil in after life. The risin" value of land was such that it was a duty to give their lads all the practical knowledge possible, in order to enable them to make a living 011 the high valued land. A farm established on" the lines suggested would do this. He hoped in the near future to see a High School established in Stratford, and he would like to sceithe school have an area of 40 to 50 acils and the land used for agricultural instruction. Mr. Brown, the'agricultural expert, was of opinion that if they appointed a farm manager the boys and the instructor could carry out the experiments. Returned soldiers would like to take up farming, and the model farm would be an ideal place whereat to train them. Returned men, not strong enough through the effects of the war to take up heavy v'ork, might take on the lighter .side of farming, such as beekeeping, poultry-farming, and orchardkeeping. The farm would he a direct benefit to the farmers themselves and an asset to the district. The heads of the Department were in sympathy with the proposal, and he hoped the meeting would put something definite before the Minister 'when they again met him Mr. J. B. Richards said the question of increased production was one that should always interest the farmer, lie wanted to lay stre.-s 011 the point that the value of products exported had been rising during the last fifteen years, and probably . many fanners forgot the incleased cost of production. Five years ago the amount of butter produced was 011 the wane. This was due, in his opinion, to the old pastures. Since then stumping, breaking up, and cultivation, and the use of fertilisers, had been responsible for an increase of 40 per cent., but they were coming to a stage when greater knowledge was required ill the use of fertilisers in order to get more out of the land. It was essential that records should be kept of experiments made 011 the farm, and these records should be available to those farmers who were diligent enough to inquire. In ] the past, tiie average farmer conducted his (jiwn experiments in his own way. j Mis business was to produce, not to tell other people what his experiments had produced, and consequently fanners had to rely 011 others for the information, which might or .might not suit their particular soil or conditions. He sincerely hoped the farm would be an established fact.

Mr. R. Dingle -aid they were In the best dairying di-^triot in the Dominion, but land in and around Stratford needed a jjodd deal of attention. He was, a practical farmer, but lie wanted to learn the best scientific methods. If tliey «ot the farm started it might save men who were starting farniitisf a deal of money ami l.ibor if they could 'get the iale.it information on farming. He was sorry tiie chairman of. the Stratford County Council was not present, be(ause it was more a Council matter probably than they thought. In- the Stratford county there was roughly •201,000 acre.* of iar.d, of which something like 08,000 acres, or one-fourth, was used for dairying purposes. If these 80,000 acres wsre made to produce an-

other 151b of butter-fat per acre it mould mean an increase of £OO,OOO, and this would assist the Council materially in tiie matter of rates for making the roads. He considered that with better cows and -practical methods in five years tiiri.; the produce from t iie land could be increased by one-third. It was a matter that concerned the dairy companies as well. The Stratford and. Midhirst Companies had a turnover, roughly, of a quarter of a million, and if they gave £IOOO to get .£IO,OOO 'back for their suppliers it would be good business. It must be admitted that more could be got off the land, but they would have to use more practical jirnl scientific methods, and a farm established 011 the lines suggested would materially help. Mr. R. McK. Morison said the project had bis sympathy and support, and if the farm was run 011 practical lines it should pay. Mr. J. \V. Boon said he felt sure tiie* farm would receive the support of his Council. Opportunities must be given to boys to farm 011 scientific lines. Mr. W. H. Were said lie could assure them that the Stratford County Council was in sympathy with the project. He believed in scientific farming, and it seemed to him the dairy companies would have to foot the bill, because they were going to get the most benefit out of it. Mr. Ranford said he felt -sure it would receive the support of the Stratford Dairy Company. It must be remembered they had to make farming attractive to keep the 'boys from the town and get them to take an interest in the country. Mr. Jackson moved: "That this conference of delegates affirms, the principle ol the establishment of a model dairy farm in the Stratford district."

Mr. Skedgawell, in seconding, said he felt sure ehcy vould rely on the practical support ot the Midhirst Dairy Co. The motion was carried unanimously. A committee, consisting of Messrs E. Jackson, Were, Boon, Skedgewell, Masters, Ranford, and Richards, was appointed to meet Messrs Deem and Brown (Government Instructors) and report to a future meeting. »