STRATFORD NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1926, Page 10

STRATFORD NEWS

GENERAL ITEMS. The test music for the band contest in 'Wellington next February has been received by the local band. The members aro now engaged in practising the two selections and the march. Tho selections are from Mozart’s “Il Flanto Magico” and Amber’s “Fra Diavolo;” and the march is Percy Shaw’s “Outpost.” Rehearsals aro proceeding satisfactorily for the forthcoming production of the three-act comedy “Facing the Music” by the Stratford Amateur Comedy Company, and there is every indication that the production, which will bo staged early in December, will be successful, as the members of the caste have all had previous experience in the staging of this class of entertainment. Much interest is .being taken in the initial effort of the newly-founded organisation, which intends in the future to present comedies at certain stated intervals in aid of local charities. A real god time and a profitable afternoon may be obtained at Midhirst today (Thursday) when the Anglican Bazaar will be officially opened by Mi. E. Walter, M.P. All sorts of articles have been prepared for sale, and those in search of novelties for Christmas should make a point of visiting the hall. Preparations for a real good dance have been made for the evening. Peek’s orchestra will supply the music and Midhirst hospitality is too well known to require amplification. A free bus will leave from Stratford. In connection with the erection ot the rest-room in Stratford the architect (Mr. IV. 0. Phillips) has pointed out that since his first submission to the council of plans and specifications, the design and materials were considerably altered. The building will not be built of breeze block as stated in yesterday’s issue, but of brick and concrete. Under the circumstances, the figures dealing with the estimated cost are entirely crroncus. STRATFORD DEMONSTRATION FARM. MONTHLY REPORTS. The report of the Stratford Demonstration Farm is as follows: —Cows in milk sixty; butter-fat taken for the month of October was 2,643 lbs. The Cow-testing. Association results show that the association average production for October was 36.27 lbs and the farm herd average 49.54 lbs. Ploughing has been completed. Oats have been sown in field 7, mangolds in field 14, and carrots in field 9 a Field 11 is ready for sowing down to permanent pasture and the remainder of the land which has been ploughed is being worked as weather permits. Broom and blackberries are. being cut and barberry hedges have been weeded. The following recommendations were submitted by the Farm Committee:—Mangolds, 2 acres; Main crop Prize-Winner with some areas White Knight, Red Intermediate, and six Danish varieties similar to those grown last year. Manure 3 parts Super, 1 part bone, 1 part Nauru, at the rate of 6 cwt. per acre plus 3 cwt. of Kainit; manorial experiments on the same lines as last year to test the value of potash against Kainit or salt. Carrots, 1 acre: Main crop Sutton's Matchless White and small areas of other varieties. Manure 3 parts Super, 1 part bone, 1 part Nauru Phosphate at the rate of 5 cwt. per acre. Soft Turnips, 5 acres approximately: About J acre Red Paragon, remainder Hardy Green Globe, except about 4 acre which will be used to test out several new varieties. Manure Basic Super at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre. Chou Moellier, about 5 acres: Two acres to be sown as soon as possible, and remainder when the swedes are sown. Manure' basic super at the rate of 4 cwt. per acre. Swedes, 3 acres: Main crop Grand-Master and Masterpiece. Several new varieties will be sown for testing purposes. Manure, 2 parts Super, 1 part Slag at- the rate of 3-J cwt. per acre. Permanent. Pastures: About 8 acres will be sown with the following mixture: —Cocksfoot 61bs., Perennial Rye, 20 lbs., Italian Rye 61bs., Timothy 61bs., Crested Dogtail 2lbs., Colonial Cowgrass 3lbs., Colonial White Clover 21bs making a total of 451bs. per acre. Previous to sowing Buda Kale will be drilled in at the rate of 11b of seed per acre. Details were submitted of alternative mixtures for the purpose of testing the value of Timothy as against Cocksfoot. A small area will have a mixture of Meadow Foxtail. Danish Cocksfoot will be used as against Akaroa seed. In other plots imported Ken-

tish Wild White Clover will be sown, and imported Cornish Marl Red Clover, the latter being a test against Colonial Cowgrass. In yet another plot Montgomeryshire Late Cut Red Clover will be used. Feld 16 to be dressed with Toko lime at the rate of lOcwt. per acre. Ragwort: In field 4 the ragwort to be cut level with the ground, bruised and dressed with a small handful of Kainit per plant. Ragwort in field 6 to be similarly treated but dressed with salt instead of Kainit, the object of this being to establish if possible a suitable method of dealing with th : s weed were it grown in i/olated plants.