A HOSPITAL FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1918, Page 6

A HOSPITAL FARM.

TARANAKI BOARD'S VENTURE In reply to a letter of inquiry the secretary of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has received Information from the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board with respect to its farm. The letter says:—"The original farm fs Bituated about three-quarters of a mile from the hospital, and contains about 32 acres. The sum of £7OO was paid down, and the balance of purchase money is on mortgage. Our Old People's Home is on the farm, and we therefore get a certain 'amount of work done by some of the inmates whom the doctors consider are fit to do something. The work done, however, is more in the nature of exercise. On this farm we have been milking about sixteen cows, and up to the present we have been able to keep the hospital and home supplied fairly well with the amount of milk required. Owing to the growth of our institutions we now find that we must increase our herd and also the area of land. Consequently we have recently acquired an additional piece of land adjoining containing about twenty-six. l acres. This land we hold lease for five years with an optional purchasing clause. The success of a farm of this description depends to a very great extent on the capability of the farm manager. Fortunately we ihave several members of the board who are experienced farmers, and they form a farm committee to supervise the management. I might also mention that I have had some experience in this direction. Apart from the supply of milk, I have introduced lately the growing of vegetables, raising of poultry, supply of eggs, and the fattening of pigs. This is done at a small cost, on the refuse from the kitchens of the institutions. The milk is taken to the hospital, and the refuse from the kitchen and tables taken back to the farm. It is then put into large coppers and boiled before being fed to the poultry and pig 3. .... During the year March 31, JOIB, we made a profit on farm operations of £207 lis 6d; the chief items of receipts being milk and vegetables supplied to our own institutions, £fK53 Cs 2d; sale of pigs and calves, £lll l">s 7d. etc. The Wellington Board is favorably disposed to buy a farm at Lear's island, between Hutt and Petone.