MUDDY GATEWAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1938, Page 3

MUDDY GATEWAYS

ELIMINATION DESIRABLE. Being a very busy man, the farmer is apt to overlook some of the obvious requirements for a well and economically run farm, states Mr E. B. Glanville, instructor in agriculture, Whangarei, in the Journal of Agriculture. A condition which the average farmer takes for granted as part of the game is mud, but this to a large extent can be overcome by the expenditure of a little time, and the advantages accruing are obvious. A sight only too common during the wet weather are gateways which require much vigilance and energy on the part of the stock to negotiate. Udders trailing in mud are not helpful in producing high-grade cream nor in combating disease, to say nothing of foot complaints. Not to mention efficiency, nothing looks better on a farm than well-main-tained gateways with good gates. Not only do they give the farm a good, well-kept appearance, but they are necessary to run the farm economically ' and to handle stock efficiently.

On many farms it is difficult and costly to secure suitable material to keep gateways in good order, but on the majority it is possible to obtain material of some sort to prevent gateways from becoming quagmires.

Obviously metal is the best material for this purpose. Where metal is costly and difficult to obtain, material such as sandstone is often available, and, failing this, a filling of fascines will give a great improvement. . On most dairy-farms cows will be beginning to come in next month. This will mean heavy traffic through gateways, and if they have not been attended to they wil soon be cut up. With the wet weather experienced throughout the winter and with that which can be expected during the next few months gateways will become practically impassable and dangerous to the well-being of the herd. It is a most important job during the autumn months to attend to all farm gateways so that they will stand up to the traffic of stock during the wet periods of the year.