INGLEWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1922, Page 6

INGLEWOOD.

JERSEY CLUB’S FIELD DAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) March 16. The Inglewood Jersey Cattle Club is to be congratulated on the success of its first trial of actual tuition concerning the famous dairy breed of cattle it has been formed to support and spread information about amongst the farmers of the district. The field day and demonstration was held to-day at Miro Meadows. Mr. A- A. Ward’s farm on Rugby Road, which has given its name to that gentleman’s famous herd of pedigree Jerseys. The services of Mr. H. E. B. Watson, the association’s demonstrator and lecturer, had been secured for the day. In spite of the broken weather, well over 100 were gathered to take advantage of the instruction offered. Tn the forenoon five cows were presented in a ring formed on the bank of the Wai-iti-puki stream, wh’ch rrns through the farm, and then Mr. Watson kept his audience in close attention on his remarks concerning the numerous points to be looked for in the ideal dairy cow, especially of the Jersey breed. The address was very interesting and instructive, delivered in plain language that any child could understand. Mr. Watson emphasised the fact that breed characteristics should not be the sole aim of breeders; high productive power also should be aimed at. An adjournment having been made for lunch, which was prolonged to permit a storm to pass, two of Mr. Ward’s bulls, Miro Meadows Maori Boy and Al, both brad on the estate* were brought into

the stockyard, the weather by that time having become too wet for a return to the open paddock. Mr. Watson again addressed those assembled on the characteristics to be desired in the male of the breed. One point on which he was very emphatic when speaking about the milking cows was the great importance of quiet, kindly handling, and patience with the animals at all times.

After the conclusion of the discourse on bulls, four cows were submitted to the inspection of children from Tariki School (5 boys and 4 girls) for a judging competition, to which M*r. Watson’s remarks formed the guide. Mr. V. Harkness acted as umpire and awarded first place to Miss Olive Jakes and second to Miss Mabel Hucker, x saying, as he did so, that the girls all seemed to give more lucid reasons for their selection than the boys, though one of the boys had made a very good selection, but could give no reason for his choice. The concluding stage of the afternoon’s work was the comparison of three yearling heifers. After they had been subjected to inspection for som< time Mr. Watson called for votes as to their quality, and when a show of hands had been taken he announced his judgment, which gave first place to the one receiving 5 votes, second to the one receiving 7 votes, and third to the receiver of one vote. Then followed an interesting discussion as to the relative merits of numbers 1 and 2, which elicited still further information from the lecturer, though possibly some of the supporters of No. 2 were “of the same opinion still.”

A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Watson for his address was given on the proposal of Mr. Walter Peters, of Kaimiro. The club is to be congratulated on a success scored and encouraged to repeat the process. At the same time Mr. Ward deserves very hearty thanks for the use of his farm, his cattle and the hospitality of himself and family, to whom no small extra work must have accrued, and on whose willing help the success secured in no small degree depended.