AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS

Wairarapa Age, 27 March 1920, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS

TO TINUI FARMERS. (By* Our Special Reporter.) At yesterday's meeting of the Tinui branch of the Farmers' Union an interesting address was delivered by Mr. F. E. Ward, the newly appointed agricultural instructor for the Wairarapa district. The chair was occupied by Mr. A. J. Speedy. Mr. Ward, who spoke on similar lines to his address in Carterton last week, dealt very fully with pasture improvements under local conditions. He had been informed that considerable lime deposits had been found in the Tinui district, and he dealt at length with the action of lime upon the soil; The speaker strongly advised the Tinui farmers to thoroughly investigate the matter. If necessary, the Department of Agriculture would send an officer, who would nave speciments analysed. At the present time the district was in a most unfortu ; uate position regarding lime, owing; to it being at such a distance from the railway. Cartage made tho lime so very much more expensive. Mr. Ward went on to deal with the most nutritious grasses, and also the most palatable food graasses. He also stressed the unfortunate results of overstocking the pastures. Rye grass was.evidently very popular in the Wairarapa, and, in the speaker's opinion, rightly so. He thought that several grasses would be very suitable for the low-lying land in the Tinui district. Timothy and meadow foxtail would be both suitable in a mixture of seed, and meadow fescue was also worth consideration. Mr. Ward mentioned several members of the poa family, which were, little known, but none the less beneficial. Floating sweet grass was also much liked by stock, but it was more suitable for wet country. All those grasses, however, were for bettor class land—the low-lying portion of the district. But the real problem was the grasses for the hill country. Mr. Ward concluded his remarks by. referring'to the effect upon soils from tho various manures. . On resuming his seat ho was very heartily applauded.