PROGRESSIVE FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1922, Page 12

PROGRESSIVE FARMERS.

ELECTRICITY ON THE FARM. SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTS. ' Years ago while studying in England, Mr. W. B. Fussell cherished the ambition to own a farm and to run it with electricity. To this end he drew up a plan provided with the essentials for generating cheap current, and plotted in the dispositions of various labor-saving devices. To-day, nearly forty years later, the idea conceived in youth and matured through early manhood has evolved by stages to a striking realisation of the power and convenience to which electricity can be turned when applied by an intelligent man to his farm. Through the kindness of Mr. Fussell, a News’ representative was entertained there the other day. The house, which is a modern one, placed near rhe centre of the 250 acres, is reached by a long, winding drive from rhe end of rhe Richmond Road, in the Lepperton district, and presents an appearance peaceful and pleasing as it looks down from the serenity of well kept lawns and flower gardens on to the broad acres of the flats. To the east of the house is the orchard and vegetable plots. The garage is modestly retired at the back, while on the west side a tennis court beckons invitingly. Nearly two rams pump water into a hugh concrete reservoir, which supplies a filtered stream for the house, and also a powerful jet at the cow-shed lower down. Ingeniously constructed septic tanks function ceaselessly in a depression not far away. ELECTRICAL ENERGY. At the foot of the hill a beautiful artificial lake surrounded by trees suggests a swim or an hour in the skiff moored there. This head of water feeds through a gate on to an over-shot waterwheel 15 feet in diameter, from -whieh by means of gearing and belt transmission a 34 h.p. 100 volt dynamo generates 20 amps, at a speed of 1500 revs, per minute. Cleanliness is essential in any power house, but Mr. Fuseell’s machine and instruments are subjected to a daily polishing, and when viewed shone and glistened like silver. When not otherwise employed the dynamo charges a neat little battery hidden behind a sliding panel well ventilated at the top, and this serves as a stand by. From witnessing the source of the power we next surveyed its application in a commodious workshop, where all farm carpentry is turned out. Here were arranged a circular saw. two vertical drills, a lathe, grindstone, chaff eutter, fowl grit grinder, and even a mill for grinding grain, while the large assortment of tools confirmed a growing impression that this is an entirely selfcontained farm. Adjoining the workshop an up-to-date smithy is provided, and, wonder of wonders, an electric forge is revealed! Across the yard we art* conducted to a concrete floored shed crowded with implements necessary for modern agricul-ture.-including a portable concrete mixer complete with a 2 h.p. benzine engine. A few paces, and we enter the cowshed. One. could eat one’s dinner off the floor, so scrupulously clean is it kept. Each of the ten bails is whitewashed periodically, and their glowing whiteness was quite in keeping with the newly-tarred post and rail fence surrounding the concrete yard. To conserve the manure, Mr. Fussell has a concrete’ receptacle placed at JJO great distance. SILO AND ENSILAGE. Repeated failures of good root crops to mature led Mr. Fussell to turn his. attention to insilage. A hole 21 feet deep and 10 feet in diameter has been dug vertically in a clay bank, the sides of which are merely plastered with cement, and a concrete top projects to a sufficient height, to enable easy I forking. When desired, the in silage is removed through a narrow opening into a cart beneath. while as a precaution against inclement weather an iron roof .is fitted to the top. No more expensive root crops are to be grown, and Mr. Fussell contemplates the erection of two more such silos at either end of his farm.

Mr. Fussell sticks to the Shorthorn. This year he expects to milk about 60 cows, thirty of which are pedigrees. The sire at present in use is “Dominion.’’ a noble looking beast reared on the Government Experimental Farm at Weraroa. Nothing but the best is good enough, and a fine herd is here in the making. Consistent testing shows which

mws to eliminate and which to breed f -m. One was astonished at the figures proudly given by Mr. Fussell’s son. who has charge of this important department.

The piggery was clean and concreted and the many sleek porkers expectantly eying the feeding troughs reminded one that pigs are not naturally dirty animals. About one hundred fowls are vicing with these gentlemen on the rent question, their productivity being demonstrated by a glimpse o-f the carefully packed crates of eggs ready formarket. Turkeys and geese were also encountered. TREE-PLANTING. Perhaps the most encouraging feature of this model farm is the total absence of any waste ground. Unsightly creek banks and non productive gullies are all pinus insignus plantations. Last year over 12.000 young trees were planted out. making an impressive total of about 120.000 trees. When one reflects that in 25 years time these pines will be worth the net value of £1 or £1 10fi each one can grasp the great financial value these plantations will have in the future. Several acres of gums were also viewed, and it was pointed out that, contrary to a prevailing opinion, in the Waiongone district at any rate, the macarthuri does better than its cousin the obliqua. On returning to the house. T was greatly interested in an electric washing machine, which not only washes the clothes, but passes them through a wringer, then slides along rails wringing and bluing the garments in various tubs on the way. I looked for an electric something to whisk the washing on to the line, but was disappointed. A few hundred sheep are run on the hills behind and the shearing is all done bv electrical energy. The setting sun reminded one that a farmer’s life contains other duties besides conducting an inquisitive reporter round his farm, and in leaving. Mr. Fussell told me he is always pleased to see anyone interested in such matters and would give them every facility to inspect as the writer inspected.