BYGONE DAYS: Clougher Model Farm impresses Ulster prime minister

Ahead of the visit of the Ulster PM a representative of the Ballymena Observer had an opportunity to visit the farm.

They reported: “On Wednesday forenoon, a few hours before Sir Basil and his party were due to arrive an Observer representative paid a visit there, and was really impressed, as the distinguished visitors were later on, by all he saw.

“What an eye-opener it was! This farm has everything. Eighty-four acres in extent, and situated on high dry land, it was in a more or less derelict state when Mr King purchased it twenty years ago. Today, it is a model holding, highly mechanised, with water and electricity laid on, and everything designed and equipped for labour saving.”

The Observer correspondent continued: “Only a man with a love for good husbandry in his veins and a glutton for work could have achieved such a metamorphosis. But it took more than that to make the transformation – brains and planning and foresight and the pioneer spirit, and in these respects Mr King is no dawdler.

“What strikes one on entering the farmyard, besides its spaciousness and neatness is the imposing array of modern out-buildings which enclose it on three sides, all erected since Mr King took over. ‘I spent much on them as would buy many a good-sized farm,’ he said, and we believed him. The financial outlay on such a scheme today would be well-nigh prohibitive.

“One of the show places is the great concrete byre with its divided stalls, modem ventilators, automatic drinking bowls and electric milking machinery, and, of course, lit by electricity, are the other buildings. It was as clean as the proverbial bead, and is so constructed as to be easily kept clean.”

PIONEER IN SEED POTATO GROWING

The Observer’s reporter added: “Another building has a row of individual houses for his famous beef shorthorns. Then there is the tractor and tool house, and also two huge corrugated iron haysheds bulging with high protein fodder for the winter months - all saved this year. Mr King has also all his corn cut, and on Wednesday morning he was busy in field with 26 potato gatherers from the town, wet though the weather was.

“A building which merits special mention is the potato sprouting store, designed by Mr King himself and adopted by the Minister of Agriculture as model for Ulster farmers. High and spacious and well-lighted, holds 3.000 sprouting boxes and is ideal in every way for the job. The Ministry thought so much of it that they had a model made for exhibition at agricultural shows.

“Mr King, it should be mentioned, is one of Ulster’s pioneer seed potato growers. Long before the Ministry took an interest in the trade he raised seed potatoes for export to England. At the same time a few other far-sighted farmers in the province were doing the same thing. Seed potatoes that time were fetching £31 a ton as against £8 for wares. ‘That is how I erected these buildings,’ said Mr King with a reminiscent chuckle.

“At the time he embarked on this new venture the Scottish farmers did the bulk of the seed potato trade. Ulster pioneer growers shipped their seed to England and waited for reports. Every year these got better and better. Ultimately the Ministry stepped in when they saw what could be done here, and urged farmers everywhere to take up this line. The result was that the trade boomed and the Ulster seed potatoes are today famous all over great Britain and in some parts of the Continent as well.

“This year Mr. King has 16 acres stock seed all for the English market – Ulster Ensign, Arran Pilot and Ulster Chieftain. A few years ago a deputation of English potato growers visited Clougher to see his farm. When they arrived he could hardly tear them away from the farm buildings, so interested were they in them, and no wonder!”

PREMIER’S HIGH PRAISE

After inspecting the farm, Sir Basil and his party were entertained to tea by Mr and Mrs King. Just at that time The Ballymena Observer representative had rung Mr King on the phone to ask how the visit went. Mr King had replied: “Very well. I think they enjoyed it.” The paper told Mr King that they would ring up again after tea to have a talk with him.

A minute later the correspondent’s phone rang and to their surprise it was the Ulster PM, Sir Basil. He told the newspaper: “We all enjoyed the visit immensely. I think Mr King has done a wonderful job in the yard and with his seed potatoes, beef shorthorns, and grassland.”

The Ulster Prime Minister continued: “I would not go so far to say it is an example to Ballymena – for the farmers round here are very up-to-date – but it is an example to a great many people in this country. He has magnificent pasture and magnificent stock.”

Sir Basil added that the whole day had been “most interesting”.