WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2981, 22 August 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Two slight errors crept into our report of tho Cambridge meeting of tho above Ciub, which appeared in Thursday's issue, Wnen speaking of the Property Tax, .Mr Hyatt said that under it merchants nominally paid, but they only really invested so much money with the Government, "and took care to make tho consnmors pay it." Then Mr Wells said : " That is not correct !" The other error was regarding the placarded pens of unreserved stock, the re ison being given that overyone should know "who" offered unroservedly; it should have been '■ what was" offered unreservedly.—The following is the remainder of tho business, which we were compelled to hold over :—

Cuows Lands IJn vim.—Roi,i 10 was suspended to enable tho chairman to brine forward the matter of the district represented on the Crown Lands Board. Ho s lid Mr K. Lake's torm of office had expired by eilluxion of tiuie, and it was generally understood that ho would not seek re-election from the Government —indeed, Mr Lake hud requested several Rentleinun who had spoken to liini about tlio matter not to take any stops to :;«thim reelected ; but he (the chairman) had refused to lie bound by any such promise, for the matter was a public one and 011 public grounds alone he should endeavour to pet their late representative re-elected. Mr Lake had solved the district faithfully and well, and had done an immense amount of work al his own expense — tlio only remuneration travelling expenses to Auckland and back once a mouth ; and ho doubted if the South Auckland district could b.i bettor represented than by Mr Like, who had a thorough knowledge of tlio Crown lands in the Waikato, anil was a competent and regular attend ir.t at the meetings of the Board. —Several members spoke in high terms of Mr Lake's ability and c.inrteousuoss in connection with Crown lands business, and it was unanimously resolved : "That the Minister of Lands bo asked to re-appoint Mr Like a member of the Crown Lands Hoard for the district of South Auckland."—lt was also also resolved tonskthe mombers for To Arohaand Waikato and the Hamilton branch of the Club to support the application. Mb Hu.vitv Rkyn'OUW.—Ail invitation to be present at this meeting had b"en forwarded to Mr Henry Reynolds at Wellington, where he lately arrived from the Old Country.—The chairman regretted that business had deprived them of Mr Reynolds' company; but when in Waikato he trusted Mr Reynolds would favour them with a few of the ideas he had gleaned in England, for which purpose, if necessary, a special meeting would be called. Notice op Motion.—Mr R. Reynolds gave notice that at next meeting he should move, "That the Railway Commissioners be asked to reduce the freight on sheep by I rail."—Mr Hyatt also gave notice that he should move, "That the agricultural statistic forms sent out by the Club bo collected I by voluntary enumerators, in a similar I manner as at the genera! census." Tuu.vri'.s.—The routine business having boon disposed of those present settled down to " a farmers talk," the subject for discussion being root crops.—Mr Forrest thought fanners had been in the habit of putting in their swedes too early. This year he sowed swedes in January 22nd, with good result, the crop being very thick ; they were not large, but were young, thick, and plentiful : in fact a very pretty and usoful lot. He thought the season had had a deil to do with his success, but that granted, he still thought early sowing of swedes was a mistake in tlio Waikato. Ho would have liked the Messrs Morgan, of Hautapu, t.> have been present that evening, for they grew astonishing crops of swedes on land that he considered inferior to bis farm, and perhaps they might havo lo 1 ; some of thoin into the secret; however, he thought the gentlemen referred to did not intend to divulgue, for when he asked them how they managed it. the reply ho received was : "We use our brains." So he supposed other farmers must follow suit until they discovered the secret.—Mr Clark related his experience and then asked if a grass paddock ploughed in October would be better for roots it it was ploughed again later on, or only surface worked. His opinion appeared to ba that it was beat with the one ploughing, and then the surface well worked, as he thought it retainod more moisture and was freer from weeds.— The Chairman said lie found people with poor land could beat him in growing roots. When ho commenced growing them 110 started sowing in November, but during the last six years he had been getting later and later. If land was ploughed and sowed immediately the crop would ba a failure. This year he had tried various manures and seodsi but he found now land gave the best result and in one corner of a paddock that had never before been ploughed was the best of the lot. He found Coral Queen guano good to force the plant ahead. In this climate ho found the following routine do uncommonly well; swedes, wheat, soft turnips (catch crops), then swedes again. In a paddock of Greystones and Aberdeens he found cattle stuck to the former and cleared them almost before touching the latter. —Mr Clark endorsed Mr Fisher's rennrks about now land. He had known fern land of bad quality, half of it clay, give good crops of swedes ; and he thought it was because tho subsoil was cooler. He believed light soils wore too warm for roots. He asked what had proved the best variety of swede during tho past season.—Mr R. Fisher said the Marshal, and it was a good keeper.—Several others took part in tho discussion which was terminated by Mr 11. Reynolds giving his experience, which briefly condensed was as follows: that turnips will not do well after swedes; swodes after swedes not always a success ; swedes after turnips, all right ; swedes after stubble, good ; that brains must bo applied as well as manure ; what is right this year is net alwavs right next year; if land dry and baked, roll or harrow especially if dry weather ; best time to sow from middle of December to end of •January; risky to sow more than 10 per cent, of crop before Christmas; rather sow immediately after rain than before, but harrow afior rain before sowing; late ploughing does better if tho weather is wet. Mr Reynolds said he had tried Coral Qeen gnano with anything but satisfactory result, and that the bost crop of roots ho ever grow—oo acres —carried two boasts to the aero for fivo months. Except for trial, he mixed various sorts of seeds and let the fittest survive. Mr Reynolds concluded by stating that g.iod dry land suitable for feeding oIF must become valuable. Mr Reynolds was the last speaker and tho meeting broke up at 10.20 p.m.