PRACTICAL FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1922, Page 12

PRACTICAL FARMERS.

RESULTS FROM POORER LAND. PEDIGREE JERSEYS. 1 Last week there was a succession of those beautifully clear days that herald the approach of another New Zealand summer. sunshine, nicely tempered with a sting of departing winter, reminds the farmer that his days of so-called leisure are at an end, cows coming into profit need attention paddocks require preparation, crops must be planned. In short, another season is near at hand. Perhaps the opinions and experiences of practical successful farmers may be of use to our farmer readers in planning their year’s work. Much fern and blackberry is occupying good dairy land in the Mangorei district, but that it can be successfully worked and made productive was amply demonstrated to a News’ representative who recently spent an instructive afternoon at “Holly Oak,” the residence of Mr. John Hale. HOUSE AND SURROUNDINGS. To reach the house it is necessary to descend to a bridge, then ascend a* six in one incline which would make access difficult without a modern road. It has cost Mr. Hale £5OO to grade and metal two roads, one to the house, and one to the sheds and dairy, but the convenience justifies the expenditure. An ambitious young hedge of neatly clipped cupressus lawsoniana bounds the first half of the drive, while, lining the bank opposite, boxwood shrubs have been grown obliquely so that should a post give way the net-work of roots will hold the filling. Above, a shoulder of, the hill is tastefully planted with trimmed trees, shrubs and flowers. The residence is a real homestead, roomy and comfortable, protected on the south and west by rows of thick macrocarpa, but open to the sunny east and north. From the wide verandah there is to be obtained a splendid view. It is sufficient; the steep incline needs no other excuse. In preparing for spring sowings ’a farmer works long hours. It was 2 o’clock when the reporter arrived, but Mr. Hale had not yet returned for dinner, so an inspection was made extending to the back of the well-watered 400 acres through patches of exquisite native bush, preserved both for shelter and beauty. Mr. Hale was encountered near a newly acquired paddock once overgrown with blackberry, and gave some interesting particulars regarding its destruction. “Keep the plough going, and don’t let the vine see daylight.” said he. “For eight months I worked that ground, ploughing it whenever time could he spared. It is an old method, but, in my opinion, the only really effective one.” No cropping has been done, but the paddock is now ready, and it is proposed to make turnips the first sowing. Of course, this method is acceptable where the farm is of sufficient area to allow the infested plot to remain unproductive. A small farm fully stocked could not be so treated. Questioned as to the advisability of putting ii root 1 crops so early. Mr. Hale stated that in I I his opinion farmers nowadays were

allowing the seasons to get too late. This year his turnips will all be in before November, while his mangold seed-, which, with manure, are to be planted by hand in drills previously made, will be growing by September. This early sowing gives root crops all the benefits of the spring growth together with ample time to mature, but, cn the othei hand, the farmer will have to contend witK strong weed growth and the ever present bird pest. COWSHED AND HERD. A life-long experience in the town . milk supply business has taught Mr. i Hale the absolute necessity for providling sanitary surroundings to his dairy. The main shed, 66 feet by 60 feet, is divided into three sections. The first contains twelve separate calf pens, each with a moveable grating over a concrete floor, well drained and ventilated, while the fresh straw bedding bespeaks the care given to each ealf. The centre is given to milking, and here, as elsewhere. scrupulous cleanliness is observed. An auxiliary compartment, complete with bails and feed boxes, is next the milking shed. Here the cows can be detained in comfort during cold, stormy weather, and a ration of pulped mangolds or hay sustains the flow of milk. It is questionable whether a finer herd of pedigree Jerseys exists in the Dominion. Certainly the foundation animals comprised some of the best dairy blood obtainable at the time. The cows are typically Jersey. Well sprung ribs protect deep, spacious middlepieces. with regular silky udders, extending well along the body and caught high up behind. A good wide head is important, bright prominent eyes set far apart, mouth large, jaws strong, and wide distended nostrils. These are the mothers. For manv years Mr. Hale has been steadily “breeding up” from well known fat producing hulls. His original sire. “'Exile of Oaklands.” was out of the best cow in Taranaki in her dav. Quite apart from the stock this bull lias left on “Holly Oqk.” other sons of his dam have proved almost as successful. Then came that great bull, “Souroise Tom.” rich in Monopoly blood, a sire of many 700 lb cows. Now “Grannie’s Kniejit” (K.C.B. —Grannie’s Girl) is building on the foundation these other two famous hulls laid, and he is proving greater than either, both in leaving show* stock and producers. The herd comprises 36 cows, all aris k tocratically bred. Thirteen have already been through the semi-official test, and their average of 604 lb of fats constitutes an Australasian record. One graceful young heifer. “Holly Oak’s Beauty.” commenced her testing period at the age of 1 year 134 day?. Before she is 3 years old. an age at which many heifers are just being brought in, this remarkable cow will have returned rather more than 1000 lb of fat. Most of these last year’s heifers were mated with “Meadowvale General Daisy,” a double grandson of that champion Jersey “Sultan’s Daisy” (968 lb fat), and this will further maintain highly productive qualities in their progeny also. Concerning the 150 odd sheep running on the farm Mr. Hale expressed himself forcibly. “They are not really worth looking after, nor is the fleece worth the trouble and expense of shearing. Skins which once brought from 11? to 15s j now fetch less than 3s each. On one ■bundle recently offered for sale it was found that the vendor a-tually owe<| a balance to the dealer. REMARKS. Assuming the negligent attitude of farmers whenever there is a broad topped handy. Mr. TTalp applied himpelf fo current topics. “F«r nine year*.” said this authority. “1 received only 22s x_6d per week, but during bUat decode 1

was never out of work, because T wanted it. Before the war. when wool was 9d, butter-fat Is 3d, and meat just about double what it is now, a farmer could find plenty of labor at from 7s to Ss per day. Now the producer is actually getting less, but all classes of labor want more. Whereas T am satisfied that wool no longer pays its grower, the high shearing rates, high freezing charges, excess freights and manufacturing costs bring the finished, article to its present prohibitive price. This suit,” continued Mr. Hale, “is chiefly made up of high incidental costs.” Regarding unemployment. he considered that the whole country is crying out for labor, hut farmers cannot afford to pay its wages. “Let unemployed men accept a more reasonable rate of pay, a in keeping with primary prices, and the H.C’.L. will soon assume a corresponding level." Farmers have done their bit, and are still doing it. but other member's of the community should bear this in' mind that nature does not give up its treasures without a struggle. Brains ai?d brawn are required, but. above all, cheaper and more willing and labor.