RUAKURA AGRICULTURAL STATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1106, 23 November 1901, Page 2

RUAKURA AGRICULTURAL STATION.

Ykstkiday morning, at the invitation of Mr Ritchie, chief of the Stock Department, a representative of this journal paid a visit to the Experimental Station, at Kirikiiiroa. The party consisted of Messrs Ritchie Clifton (offic r in charge of the Auckland District?, D D. Hyde iGovernmmt, Poultry Expert), J. B. Thompson (Government Surveyor), Jos. Barugli (President of the Waikato Farmers’Club), J. K- McDonald, J. D. i>. Morgan, E. C, Shepherd, aid M. Mulcahy (manager of the farm). The first thing that strikes one on nearing the station is the transformation scene that has been worked in the homestead. The house and outbuildings have been renovated and painted, n ,j at wire mid rail fences have been elected, and the whole am roundings wear an air of prosperity. The work has only been in hand a little over three months, and, if such progress is continued, at the end of twelve months the station will undoubtedly be a credit to the colony. Ten regular hands are employed, and all sorts of farm work wore in progress on tin occasion of our visit, shearing, sowing, road-making, etc. At pre-ent there are 50 acres in oats, two in potatoes, six in mangolds, six in carrots, three acres iu sugar beet, while "'there are yet 80 acres of turnips to go in. The farm is now carrying 140 large steers, 500 sheep (including lambs), 11 draught horses, and a complement of hacks and harness horses for station work.

The object of the visit of the Government officers is to arrange for the erection of the necessary buildings. These will include a new homestead, stables and outbuildings, cowsheds, and fowl houses for poultry raising. They will not be erected on the present site, but further on alongside the railway line. They are to be of a very substantial nature, aud a large sum of money will be expended on the work. An endeavour is to be made to have the Ruakura Station shifted on to the farm. At present it is only situated fifty chains from where it is proposed to erect the main buildings, and Mr Clifton thinks it highly probable that he will be able to impress upon the Railway Department the wisdom of,the step. Should this fail, an attempt will be made to have the Kirikiriroa Station removed further up the line. Should neither of these plana work the Department will be compelled to put in a siding at a desirable spot. On the hill a short distance away a reservoir to hold about 20,00(1 gallons will be erected, by means of which water will be led into almost every portion of the farm. The rise is splendidly situated, there is a splendid fall and a good well and windmill about 150 yaids'diatant. At present a road is being made on the eastern side of the homestead from the Silverdale road to the railway line, and we understand that this will be continued right down the line, through the Model Farm recently purchased from the Waikato County Council, joining the Hukanui Road. In the elbow of this road Mr Hyde has chosen the site for his poultry-raising establishment, A large number of permanent houses will be put up for breeding purposes, while moveable dwellings will be used for the main flock. It is anticipated that this work will he commenced in January, as it must be completed in July. Mr Hyde is delighted with the place. Speaking on the subject he said : ‘ I was never in favour of Motuihi as a poultry farm ; hut in Hamilton we have an ideal spot for the business, and in the course of a year or two you will see here the best poultry station south of the line.’ We understand that it will he iu charge of Mr Carl Cussen, sou of Mr L. Cussen, who is at present stationed at Burnham. There is an enormous amount of woik to be done on the place. All *he drains are to he deepened and enlarged ; in many cases they will he lowered another four feet, making the depth ten or twelve feet, and there arc son e seven or eight miles to he done. Mr Thompson Government surveyor has been engaged for some lime iu taking levels and laying out the best lines to ensure a good outfall, and although at present tln-re is not a drop of water in any of the drains, this work will ho put in hand us soon as possible. The improvements that have already been carried out reflect creditably on Mr Mulcihey, whose heart and soul appear to be iu the business,

After the inspection the visitors were entertained at luncheon in the orchard by Mr Mulcahey. The toast of ‘ The Agricultural Department ’ was proposed by Mr Shepherd, who said the farmers were highly delighted at the steps the Department had taken. They were quite sure the Department had the farmers’ welfare at heart, and it was their earnest wish that the farm at Hamilton would prove a success. Mr Ritchie briefly replied. He said there was no doubt about the Department having the farmers’ interests at heart. As far as the Hamilton faim was concerned, he and his staff would do their utmost to make it a success. It was only natural to suppose that they would have failures; but the loss would rest with the Government, and the farmeis would profit hy their misfortunes. Mr E. Clifton also spoke. He said it was early yet to talk of what had been done on the farm, as they were only getting it put in order before commencing work. The Waikato was essentially a dairying district, and particular attention would therefore be paid to matters pertaining to the industry, and the top dressing of crops and pastures. This would be supplemented with poultry raising, fruit growing, while that much, neglected branch of farming—pig-breed-iog would not be overlooked. In the latter branch there were unknown possibilities, and he saw no reason why New Zealand should not take a leading part in this profitable industry, Mr Hyde also replied at some length, devoting his remarks particularly to the poultry branch. He gave some interesting figures and illustrations of the encouraging prospects held out to those who inter into the poultry business, hut as he intends to deliver a lecture ou the subject early in the year we will not anticipate him. The healtli of Mr Mulcahey was then proposed hy Mr Thompson, who complimented the manager upon the excellent progress the farm bad made under his supervision.—The toast was heartily drunk.