BELFAST CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 November 1913, Page 7

BELFAST CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS.

(By E. Clinton, in tlio Agricultural Journal.) Tho work undertaken by the Department at Belfast, Canterbury, in conjunction with tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, is/an example of the most vain .able type of co-opera-tive experimentation. ft conforms almost entirely to the method that lias been so highly appreciated in Ireland under the direction of that famous administrator of agricultural development, Sir Horace Plunkct. Experimental plots were undertaken under the control of the Irish Board of Agriculture. They were located at convenient country centres, principally where farmers foregather. They' exemplified tho experiments most in demand in the particular district in which they were located. We have practically similar conditions in connection with the experiments at Belfast, a centre where many of the farmers of North Canterbury have business to transact and thereby have a good opportunity to investigate tho work in tho experimental fields. The whole of the operations are under the personal direction of Mr Arthur P. Hopkins, the manager at Belfast, who is an enthusiast in the work, co-op-erating in the most complete harmony with the Fields Instructor of tho South Island, Mr A. McPliersou. Mr Hopkins' .services are always at the command of visitors, and realising as he does tho value of complete data, ho is always in a position to give exact information in regard to the experimental work in progress. The experiments cover many descriptions of root crop*, chiefly mangels, swedes, turnips, and carrots. With regard to fodder crops, silverbeet has made the Belfast plot® famous. In the opinion of Mr Hopkins, this plant is proving the most valuable of all plants that have lately been included in tho farm economy. Cliou moellier is another crop which has been tested well with excellent results at Belfast. Lucerne of several varieties is also being grown, and well merits the most careful attention of visiting fanners. Originally the plots at Belfast covered some 14 acres. Now they embrace a, further area of 10 acres, or, in all, 24 acres.