EXPERIMENT PLOTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10692, 13 August 1912, Page 7

EXPERIMENT PLOTS

FOB SPRING SOWING

The following communication from

Mr G. S. Bayliss, Fields Instructor, was road at the meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association on Saturday iast: — With regard to the above 1 think the following experiments should be tried this season, but that they should only be undertaken by those who are able to give the necessary attention to same. Say two experiments: 1 acre each : Maize for lamb feed : A—To be sown with an early maturing variety 1} —To be sown with a late strong variety.

The seed harvested by Mr G. 11. Perry should be sown again in a favourable location on good soil free from frost or cold wind, and seed should be harvested from the crop in order to obtain acclimatised seed.

Messrs Harper and Evans will be carrying out the harvesting of Kale seed experiment, which is a continuance of last year's maize and kale experiment. All land to be planted later on for experiment work should be ploughed up as early as possible, so as to give time for a short fallow. No land should be accepted for experiment work unless it can be ploughed early and properly prepared. Trial might be made with sainfoin in one or two districts. I would also like to see an attempt I made by some one who- takes particular interest in seed production in the glowing of swedes of several varieties selecting a number of first-class bulbs of the variety which has done the i-'-jst, :-nid given the heaviest yield, and planting these for seed purposes the following year. I suggest that if a reliable member of your Association undertakes this trial, that six other rei\ ii'o members guarantee + o sow not less tl ai> half an acre of this local seed tne vear this seed becomes available for sowing, alongside the same variety imported, and in the same paddock, and under the same conditions as their main crop of swedes are sown, and to report to your Association thereon.

With regard to maize for dairy feed one rr two experiment:-: might bo placed with dairymen if the right- man can be found. Unless there-are any local trials specially desired by any of your members, I think that with the experiments already arranged), that Mastorton district, will be fairly well catered for. I would specially like to ask that every effort should be made in the interests of your Association, and also : n the interests of the Department, that these trials -should be only placed with men who are nible to carry out the experiment carefully: to preti.iro the land thoroughly previous to sowing, and give such attention as is necessary thereafter.

I would like to remind you that ooonerativa experiments carried out in youi' district and elsewhere, h°V' the means of introducing t? your members -nover-al varieties rf onts. wheats. nr.d .barleys rev-" t-o .1 Zeniniifl.. Yo'ir antvrrrin show is about + !io. fiv-yt in this part of" the nt whMi it is possible to e:*■libl i- fijr-ivo? fi'om the current "p.ir'f erons. Tf your commit tec con Id induce [be growers of there cereals oadff> ,cn;ir[ in fr»-r the sho** four specially made up sheaves of each variety they •rpi'O rr I*o wing. together with a. ,saucefull of tlv>. grain rub-bed out frnm'eV -•.u-v'ty. it would form an uniquo e-x----'-i?iif!c-». vor>r show would lie l bf« CP''! phon* of the season held suffteipnt.lv lute in the v-"" 1 " t 0 enable 'K fc, 1>". tbo first- to exhibit the produets of that season's harvest.