STRATFORD MODEL FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1920, Page 2

STRATFORD MODEL FARM.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SOCIETY. The third annual meeting of the Stratford Model Dairy Farm and Experimental Area ! Society was held at tho Parish Hall, Stratford, on Saturday afternoon, the chairman (Mr. I. W. Deem) presiding over an attendance of about 40 members. The annual report stated that the freehold of the Society's property had been acquired, the money necessary being obtained by securing the consent of the guarantors, to an increased overdraft. Progressive improvement had been maintained, about eight acres having been stumped and cleared ready for the forthcoming,' season's root crops, and ploughing of same had been commenced. Gates and fencing had been improved, and new Implements purchased included a mower, hay rake, and stacking equipment. State school pupils continued to visit the farm where instructional classes were held, and portions of land placed at ! liielr disposal and utilised by them for ■ potato growing. The improvements of the : farm by various methods, Including cultivation, re-sowing and top dressing, was reflected by the increased number of cattle carried. All the crops grown were satisfactory. Many varieties of swedes, turnips, mangolds, Tetches and peas were grown, and manurini trials extensively demonstrated. Valuable assistance had at all times been ungrudgingly rendered : by the Department of Agriculture and Mr. Glasson (Fields Instructor at Hawera) had exercised a watchful eye and energetic hand on many occasions, while the Government subsidy had been extended for a further two years. Mr. £. Newland, who had occupied the position of farm manager since the inception of the society, resigned as from July Ist, and Mr. E. Hartwig ha<J been appointed to the position. The balance-sheet showed that on tho profit and loss account (he receipts had amounted to £598 3s, and the expenditure to £314 Us, leaving a credit balance transferred to general account of £283 12s. The assets amounted to £7897 2s 3d, including B4S4G 8s 8d value of freehold property, £B9O 14s lid land improvements, £460 6s Cd buildings, and £1321 10s value of live stock, The liabilities included a bank overdraft of £7027 4s Bd. ■ The live stock account showed that tht value of the live stock had increased during the year from £O7O to £1321 !0s; £O9l 8s 4d being expended on purchases of new stock, and £192 8s fid was realised from the sale of stock. The working account showed that £B9l 10s lid had been realised from the sale of milk, and £lO 18s (id from the sale of hides, skins, and sundries, while «. balance of £lB7 Is 4d had been transferred to profit and loss account. On the expenditure side £472 6s 6d had been paid in wages, £B6 lis 8d in rent, £277 4s 7d in interest, £93 19s lid for manures, ami £35 13s 7d for seeds. Other items of expenditure being rates and taxes, insurance, food, repairs, maintenance, etc.

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. | The chairman, in moving the adoption of j the report, congratulated the members »n the success of the Society, particularly in : regard to purchasing the freehold, in this : connection mentioning that special thanks were due to Mr. ,T. B. Richards for his ; valuable assistance. The balance-sheet, he \ explained, showed an excess of assets over i liabilities of £833 7s, without taking into ; consideration the Increased value of the land. ■ The committee had written off £66 18s for ! depreciation, and had now commenced Ihe work of improving the cleared ground. The ! amount of butter-fat produced showed an in- ' crease of 12% per cent., which was not as > much as they wanted, but was nevertheless \ very good The average for the older i cows was 254 lbs. per cow. . The policy of J the committee in making tests was beginning [ to bear fruit. For Ihe first two or three | years they were very late in getting slnrted : with the season, but this year they were I getting early calvers with promise of good results. As showing the progress of the I firm, he mentioned'that last year there were j 39 cows in milk, and this year they were en- . deavourlng to have 50 cows. He then form- ! ally moved tho adoption of the .report and 1 balance-sheet. ! THE DISCUSSION. ' Mr. H, Trimble seconded the motion, and ! congratulated the chairman and committee i oa the very successful year. He suggested j that as money became available an endeavour | should be made to Improve the yard and j milking sheds in order that the farm could I be classed properly as a model farm. , : Mr. C. Jackson also congratulated the com- j imittee on the work done, and urged that i the pig department should be developed to a i greater extent. Mr. D. O'Sullivan remarked that the Jer- . sey bull at the farm was not a pedigree animal, and he advocated that a purebred pedigree bull should be purchased. Considerable discussion ensued, several of the members expressing the opinion that a pedigree animal should bo obtained, while others maintained that the bull in question was practically a purebred animal, and was second to only one other bull in Taranaki. In the discussion it was Mentioned that ' the mother of the bull had given 71 lbs. of milk per day, and 78.6 lbs. of butter-fat in a month, and that it was only through the absence of certain particulars regarding the bull's pedigree that it had not been able to get into the herd bonk. In reply to Mr. Jackson's question, the chairman said the committee would go into the question of developing the pig section as soon as they could seo their way to have the pigs looked after properly. It was all a question of funds. Replying to a question by Mr. E. f Marfell, the chairman said that the average return per cow last season was £27 17s, and the butter-fat returns worked out at 2s per lb Tho average yield of butter-fat for the herd was 223% lbs., but half of the herd wtre heifers. Taking the 21 cows in the herd, the average yield amounted to 251 lbs. of butter-fat. Further discussion ensued on the question of obtaining a pedigree Jersey bull for the purpose of developing a Jersey herd. Mr. S. Pitt remarked that there seemed, a prevailing idoa that the Society should set out to develop the Jersey breed only. , This was quite wrong, because some othe" s members belonged to the Freisian Association and others to the milking Shorthorn Associa- j tion. If the Jersey breeders wanted to prove that the Jersey was the best dairy cow, •] tlwy should prove it themselves, and not ask j th» society to do it for them. [ Mr. .7. B. Richards said that the Sociely , was not out to teach farming to er- j ncrienced farmers, but to tho greater num- j her of farmers, those who were willing and | able to be taught. The aim of the Sociely | was to show the farmers how to make tho . best of what they had, not to set up In competition with expert Jersey breeders. I Mr. Jackson objected to some members | thinking the farm was for Jersey cattle only. ; During the discussion, they had not heard ; a wofd about crops, and yet the favm was t for experimental purposes to show farmers how to grow crops and how to run a farm properly, not, how to breed Jersey cattle. :

Mr. B. Matfell pointed out that the use of manures was the chief work of the experimental form. The chairman, in replying, said that with reference to the bull at the farm it was quite true that he was not registered In ihe herd book, but he was so good that if he was registered the bulk of the people with registered herds would be tumbling over each other in their eagerness to buy him. The farm had been started as a demonstration farm to demonstrate the growing of food and the use of manures, and In the early stages there had been considerable diversity of opinion as to which class of cow to have. At the present time the feeling was in favor of the Jersey cow, but they were not after pedigree cattle but a good class of grade dairy cow such as was within the reach of the average farmer in the district. They .hoped gradually to develop such a herd by getting the best of grade cows. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was then carried. Messrs. W. Wickhaun and B. B. Hohertson wore elected to fill vacancies on the committee, and Mr. A. Coleman was re-elected auditor. On the motion of Mr. E. Marfell, the committee were accorded a hearty vote of acclamation.