MODEL DAIRY FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1918, Page 3

MODEL DAIRY FARM.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION. Mr J. W. Deem, chairman of the execor tive committee, in reviewing the work of the model dairy farm for the year at Saturday's meeting at Stratford, stated that he desired to congratulate the district and farmers" on starting the farm. In later years the farmers should derive a lot of good from the experiments now being conducted. The work at Stratford was creating considerable interest throughout New Zealand, and he expected to see the work copied in other centres. It should be remembered that it was late in the season when they took possession, and very atrocious weather militated against their work. They had to obtain a dairy herd, and a good deal of other work had to be seen into. Regarding the root crops he thought their success in mangolds justified the establishment of the farm. They had that week sold £SO off the farm. It was not bo much what they could make from the farm, but the experience gained would bo of great value in the future. He touched on the value of this work to the High School scholars. They could teach the theory in school, and then follow it up with practical demonstrations at the farm. The society were fortunate in selecting a strong committee, who had given' their best attention to all matters. He expressed keen appreciation of Mr J. B. Richard's assistance. It was not always possible for the speaker to he present, but he found that Mr Richards always carried out his work thoroughly. Regarding the dairy herd, he thought the society had done well There wa.s little feed on the farm when they took jiossess'<i!i. The milk clieque for September only amounted to £l6. They secured 18 cows and 13 heifer*, and it spoke well for the judgment of the stock committee (Messrs Dingle and Pitt) that although some heifers did not come in till November and December the average for the year was 206.3 per cow —a very fine record. Mr E. Jackson congratulated the committee upon the results obtained. They took the farm over in a very rough state, but, despite this, the root crops had given a good return. The dairy cows, a rough herd, had shown a very satisfactory average. He would like to see the High School boys given more instruction, as the knowledge and experience they obtained here would be of great value to them in the future. The farm was established to assist the boys, and also to give farmers generally all assistance possible in demonstrating what the soil could produce. Mr R. Masters supplemented the chairman's remarks regarding Mr Richards' work. The latter always took a keen interest in anything he undertook, and it was only right that he should receive a little credit. Regarding Mr Jackson's remarks about the boys, he could assure them that the boys had paid many visits there. The Education Board had leased a portion of the farm, and he was certain they would derive benefit from their studies. He hoped to see Stratford with one of the best Technical Schools in the Dominion. They looked for assistance from the Model Dairy Farm, and would get it. He was hopeful, as a member of the Education Board, that instead of sending the boys away to Moumahaki they would be able to teach the boys under the best farming conditions right in Stratford. Mr Richards said Mr Masters was right regarding the boys. They had turned up frequently and the co-ordina-tion between the scholars and the farm was going on very satisfactorily. He warned them that they must not expect too much right away, as they would move along slowly, and all must exercise patience. He reminded them that when they took the farm it was in a rough state, and the fences were down. Still they could claim to have done good work. They desired to secure the interest of! farmers, and personally he would prefer the adverse criticism of a farmer than indifference or non-attend-once. Regarding the finances, they had a bonus to come, and had sold £SO worth of mangolds. It had to be remembered that they paid for everything, interest and wages. A farmer usually did not debit against the farm his own labor and that of his family when he stated he made a profit of £4OO or so each year. Mr A. W. Budge said that from the tenor of the remarks it looked as if the farm was for the benefit of the boys, and he agreed with this, kit the farmers were not too old to learn. They might have a lot of first-class men but they had a lot to learn yet. He thought the'eommittee should appoint a qualified professional man at the head oif affairs to work in conjunction with the committee. It was imperative that this should bo done. It would be a huge disappointment to him if in 10 years this was not a big institution and one of the best in the Dominion.

Mr. McK. Morison added his tribute to the work done by the committee. He also stressed the importance of saving the seed, and touched oh the importance of horticulture. He pointed out how comfortable it would be to the teacher of a school to have an attractive garden instead of a house in a paddock and barbed-wire fence. He would be only too plesed to do what he could in this direction. In replv to Mr P. Thomson, the chairman stated the value of fertilisers supplied bv the Department of Agriculture was £GO, and the cost of seed, etc., was balanced by the sale of mangolds ana the milk bonus. Mr Pitt said they bought the stock in the open market. He wished all members to look upon the farm as their own. They did not know everything. He desired that more interest should be taken in the farm. Mr Deem, in replying, stated that they had not been able to devise much for the boys. The Education Board had made one or two changes through enlistments, but that day he had spent an hour or so with an instructor drafting out a programme for the future. Regarding Mr Budge's suggestion the committee had the idea of appointing a manager, but they would have to go slowly at first. The report, on the motion of Mr Jackson, was then adopted GENERAL. Mr Trimble said he would like to see tho farm grow other crops besides turnips. They heard that turnips spoiled the milk. The committee should experiment and see if they could grow something else besides turnips. The chairman agreed, saying the committee would note this suggestion. Mr F. Ranford said they should try ensilage. Mr Pew Yes, anything that will grow. Tn refto Mr Thomas, the chairman remarked ' \A the committee had not yet decided r.pon what type of cattle they would we on the farm.