Created Wide Interest

Rarotonga’S Field Day

THAT Rarotonga is surprisingly well equipped with modern agricultural machinery was one of the object lessons learned by the 400 adults and 600 school-children who attended the agricultural show and field day on February 23 (picture in April PIM).

Livestock judged ranged from pigs and poultry to goats and horses, and the judging of the tropical fruit and vegetable classes was followed by a banana-planting demonstration.

Tomato-growers were shown how to protect seeds against disease, and since the field day many growers have had tomato seeds treated.

A 500-gallon sprayer was used to demonstate correct fruit-t r e e spraying, and there were other demonstrations of how to pick citrus fruit, how to clean and manure a plot, and how to prune trees and remove dead wood.

Discers, ploughs and other Agriculture Dept, equipment are available at moderate charges to Rarotongan growers who come under the Administration’s citrus replanting scheme, and expert ad vice is freely given.

Rarotonga’s next field day is scheduled for December. t Auckland Suburbs Rugby Club’s senior team will play five matches in Fiji at the end of the present season, states a New Zealand re port. The team exnects to leave Auckland on September 10 and to return on September 25. Members of the club are now working to raise the £NZ 1,000 needed for plane fares, but expenses in Fiji will be met by the Fiji Rugbv Union. The team’s opponents will probably be mainlv Fi’ian plavers who have had experience against European teams, teams.