WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB (CAMBRIDGE BRANCH).

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2890, 22 January 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB (CAMBRIDGE BRANCH).

Tiik alinvu body mot in the club loom mi Monday at 7.0b p.m. Present: Messrs Jni). Kisliisr (in the chair), A. Wallace, W. Soutor, .). l-'islior, jun., .T. Anderson, C. Huberts, W. Allen, J. S. J-Wiul and W. Wallace.

The minutos of the previous meeting wore read ami duly confirmed. Nkw MBSiiiF.il. —Mr J no. Drown, of llaotapu, was elect-jd a member of the o'ub. Faumioiw' U.viox. —The Secretary of the Mangere Fanner's Club wrote, acknowledging the list of suggestions re fanners' union that had been received, and stating that til consequence of harvesting the January meeting had bean allowed to lapse, but that the subject would doubtless be considered at the February meeting, after which lie would forward the result.

FaKMIXU Exi'KiUKNOliS.—ln accordance with notice given at the previous meeting, Mr R. Fisher moved That on some occasions, as seems advisable to the members, tho evening shall be devoted to exchanging farming experiences in farming operations. —Seconded by Mr W. Allen.—Air W. Souter thought the idea a good one, and that much valuable information would bo elicited.—Mr Fisher said he was rather late in bringing tho matter forward, for tho principal subject he wished to discuss wes turnip growing, and the season was rather far advanced for the information to be of much use at present.—The motiju was carried unanimously. Fituir.—The New Zealand Lean and Mercantile Company forwarded circulars giving information to shippers of fruit as to packing, etc., and the best markets. They wero laid on tho table. Anyone requiring them can obtain them from tho secretary. Li.mk.— Mr W. Souter hamled in a letter he had received from Mr W. A. Graham, who is working a lime kiln on tho Waipa. Referring to the using of lime Mr Graham stated: —"'We are leceiving most eneouraping communications of the results. Mr W. A. Murray called on purpose to tell me that ho is surprised at the results of using this lime on his crops and his orchard. The spots where the lime has been used, even alongside bonedust, have eclipsed everything, and he authorises us to state that he believes the use of lime will alter the feature of farming our Waikato lands; oven where ho used lima with oats without bonedust, the oats are the best of his crop. The lime he got was the same as sent to Mr Scott. Mr Exelby, gardener, and Mr Mason, nurseryman, are satisfied that lime especially has altered the appearance of their crops and trees wherever used, destroying the slurs und leech and invigorating tho trees, etc., in an unmistakable manner." Mr Graham further stated tho industry had so far been worked at a loss, but that he intended to persevere with it. Tho chairman wished Mr Hyatt had been present, he could then have told them how ho was getting on with his experiments with lime and manures. Mr W. Allen said he knew that Mr Hyatt had grown an enormous crop of oats with farmyard manure and lime, and that whpre farmyard manuro alone had been used, it had made very little improvement to tho oat*. Mr It, lishci suggested that if the Puknrimu farmers intended using lime it should be brought by Btcuivoi and bo left at the Pukcrunu wharf. It appeared to be the opinion of the members present that a large Quantity of lime would be used in the district if it could be procured at a cheap rate, but that the price now asked for it prohibited it beine used for fanning purposes. Analysis.—The Chairman said Mr k. Dick had pramised to give them tl)>! analysis of the samples of soil he took when in Waikato. He thought they should ask him to attend otie of the meetinga. Inn secretary was instructed to write and ask Mr Dick if he could make it convenient lo attend tha meeting to be held on 23id February. Husr, CATKM'IIXAto AMI J M'AUUOWS.— A member asked how tho rust was getting on at Pukerimn, and he was told that it had nearlv disappeared, tho caterpillars ■md sparrows had federated aud seemed to iit-reo splendidly; the sparrows took the heads of the corn and tho caterpillars tho remainder. —Pho Secretary ho had seen tho sparrows eating caterpillais, .i. troop of caterpillars were crossing the road near Mr G. E. Clark's and he stayed a lew moments aud watched, and he saw sc\eial sparrows snap up the caterpillars and then go on tho fence and eat them.—Mr K. Fisher thought the sparrows must have been a littlo out of order and required a change of diet, as the Pokerimu sparrows were'very chary of touching caterpillars ; there was, however, a large flock of starlings that was doing good work.—After a desultory discussion on the above pests tho meeting closed.