514 Journal, of the Depaetment of AGRicuLTrRE. — Dec, .1922. 



that all farmers who have realized the value of co-operative societies 

 have joined. Further progress will be slow unless farmers can be 

 organized in special or general associations and active propaganda 

 work is undertaken in educating theni to realize the value of co- 

 operation. 



Eayperiment and Research. — Trials are in progress with field 

 crops, both under irrigation and on dry lands. This work is still in 

 its initial stages. A considerable volume of analytical work was 

 handled, and investigations were carried out in regard to certain 

 soils. A study was also made of the wild rodents connected watli the 

 spread of plague. 



Domestic science was confined almost exclusively to j)r()blems 

 connected with farm life, such as canning of vegetables and fruit, 

 soap-making, etc. This kind of work is not undertaken to any extent 

 by household science teachers, and there is an unlimited field for 

 investigation. 



The Farm. — The rainfall for the year ended 30th June was 

 17.24 inches. The water storage requires to be considerably 

 augmented to meet the requirements of the farm. Practically all 

 the crops partially failed owing to lack of water. As the majority 

 of crops were put in early an average hay and ensilage crop was 

 obtained. 



The total area under cultivation, not including the orchard, 

 deciduous trees, vegetable garden, and permanent crops, was 416 

 acres. 



The following main crops were giown : — Oats, rye, teif, Sudan, 

 maize (silage). 



The water in the river was exhaiisted early in the winter, and 

 the oats and rye crops were grazed off in consequence. 



The annual sale of stock realized £1075. Only a limited 

 number of stock was offered for sale. Considering the depression 

 which prevailed throughout the Union the prices were satisfactory. 



The numbers of pure-bred stock maintained at the Institution 

 as at 30th June, 1922, were: — Horses, Percheron and Clydesdale, 

 21; donkeys, Catalonian, 15; cattle, Friesland, 68; South Devon, 42; 

 Africander, 19; pigs. Large Black, 25; sheep, Wanganella, 179. 

 Most of the horses are Percheron. A small stud of donkeys is kept. 



The Friesland herd is continuing to attract attention owing to 

 its capacity for yielding milk. When the animals it is ])ro])osed 

 to sell this year are disposed of, all the cows in the herd 

 will be eligible for the " Advanced Registry." Considerable atten- 

 tion is being paid to the improvement of the Wanganella Stud. Xow 

 that a lecturer is stationed at the Institution the stud can receive the 

 attention it deserves. 



DeveJopwent. — Improvements carried out included the comple- 

 tion of science fittings for the school, erection of an incubator house, 

 supply of new pump and power churn, 6600 yards of faini fencing, 

 and 22 new poultry runs. 



11. Grootfonteix : R. W. Thornton, Prin(ij)aJ. 



Agricultural Conditions. — The several branches of farming 

 practised in this area suffered from the prevailing depression, but 

 there are signs of improvement. There is one good sign everywhere, 

 the desire of the farmer to organize, and it is felt tliat if he can be 



