FARMING IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1922, Page 8

FARMING IN TARANAKI.

PROGRESS IN TEN YEARS. AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. Mr. C. H. Walker, of Hawera, who has taken a great interest in agricultural matters, gave a farewell address to yesterday’s meeting of the Farmers’ Union at Hawera. Mr. Walker is leaving Taranaki to take up farming in the Wanganui district. He was heartily received by the meeting, and many complimentary remarks were made upon the assistance he had rendered to the Farmers’ Union and agriculture generally in South Taranaki. After touching on his association with the union and farming matters for the past ten years, Mr. Walker said the Toko Settlers’ Association was the first to organise the field competitions in Taranaki. From there the interest had rapidly spread, and to-day many districts were actively engaged in the competitions, which were of great value to the farmers. The inspection of the competitive areas must be a - great incentive to the careless farmers to improve their methods. The movement had very greatly increased and improved agriculture, and to-day no really poor crops were exhibited. Figures were quoted showing the rapid increase in the quality of the crops in the competitions. Air. Walker stressed the value of the boys' and girls’ agricultural clubs. They should be a sreat factor in preventing the drift of population from the country to the towns.

The system of co-operation in Taranaki counted for everything. Taranaki ranked next, probably, in this respect to Denmark. Extracts showing what co-operation meant to Denmark were quoted. The system of co-operative dairy manufacturing was about perfect in theory, but in actual practice it was frequently tarnished by distrust and disloyalty among the suppliers. A co-operative concern was worthy of support and loyalty to directors of the concern. Tn regard to subsidiary companies. he said caution should be exercised before they were entered into. The personal element was always present, although the theory of such concerns might bd good. Speaking of dairy stock. Mr. Walker said a great improvement in the quality had been recorded in the last ten years. He could see no reason why every herd should not average 3'flOlbs. of butter-fat per head, and he advocated breeding with the very best bulls to bring about this result. The best breed was the breed a man fancied, and he would make a success of whatever breed he fancied. The value of afforestation for shelter was also stressed. Boxthorn hedges in

South Taranaki had been temporary salvatmn from the rather severe climate. These hedges, however, did not provide shelter from summer heat. The shelter from the hedges was only local, and to obtain a provincial-wide benefit Air. Walker advocated planting the watercourses with trees, which would provide shelter and useful timber. A system that would ultimately change the whole climate of the country could he embarked upon, and at the same time a supply of timber and firewood could he provided. At the conclusion of an interesting address Air. Walker was accorded a vote of thanks, and a number of mem-

bers spoke appreciatively of their associations with him during the last ten years.