LAND, S TOOK & CROPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9432, 1 February 1921, Page 2

LAND, S TOOK & CROPS.

Sir James G. Wilson delivered an interesting address on "Agriculture," at the Science Congress, at Palmerston North on Wednesday last. Ho said: — At no time — important as it has always been — has New Zealand been so dependent on the agriculturist and pastoralist as it is at present. Our immediate future depends upon the quan- ' tity of produce (for the price is fixed \u the markets of the world) the farmers can take from their land, at the same time not depleting its fertility. Americans speak of phosphates as being "the key to agriculture," and it is much the same m New Zealand. I do noli think it is sufficiently realised what benefits will accrue to agriculture by having an assured supply of phosphates from Nauru. We are not likely to get it at as cheap a rate as before the war, for Government control is always expensive ; but we have m sight at leasfc phosphates for our use for a hundred years, for it must be assumed we can hold it.

There is some discussion going on as to the relative merits of the different forms m. which phosphate can. be supplied to the land, viz: — • 1. Acid phosphate (superphosphate). 2. Acid phosphate reverted by the addition of lime, called basic super. 3. Ground phosphate rock. 4. Basic slag. There is no way so convincing, to find out which i& the form best suited to the 6oil and the climate, as experiment and field trials. Lime we have m quantity, and there ib much to be dona to ascertain the exact quantity needed In our different soils, and this Mr Aston and Mr Wild have been doing to some extent. We are told, and it is a fact which seems universally acknowledged, that our safety lies m increased production; yet while this advice is given on ail hands, it seems as if we all thought that the "other fellow" ought to do it. Nor are we ever shown how we can make that increase. The Government tells us to produce more and promptly increases taxation on the increase. The bankers din it into our ears, and with equal promptitude r.aise the bank rate of interest. Perhaps I am trenching on a political question, so I will leave it at that. 1 am. firmly convinced, however, thatj while I acknowledge the necessity of the farmer having a practical knowledge of his work, science will continue to play a mucn more important part m the future than m the past.

In many parts of New Zealand the humidity of the climate combined with high temperature gives great assistance to tungoid growths, and the absence of hard frosts leaves our insect pests almost without an enemy. In grain, rust is responsible for much loss ; and nnger-and-toe m certain seasons sometimes destroys whole paddocks of our< important fodder crops. The dry rot m swedes, m the South, has caused serious trouble, and the potato disease is diminishing our crops oi potatoes, jl cannot help thinking, if as stringent measures had been taken to exclude-finger-and-toe' as we take to exclude smallpox, we might have been saved from it; but that, with the other fun'goids, has got too good a -start. The pastoralists, too, have their troubles, for weeds are taking a great toll on our pastures. Fortunately, however, Nature helps them to a large extent if they stock with cattle and sheep judiciously. The sheep are great weed-eaters, and keep most of them m check. An, example of this is seen m this district, where, m the paddocks which are grazed entirely with dairy cows the daisies are increasing to a serious extent. It is to dairying that we may look for any great advance. There must, of course, from its configuration, be a very large area of New Zealand which must depend upon sheep to graze it, and dairying can be carried out to a greater extent than at-' present. The high prices for dairy produce have induced large properties to be subdivided, and where the land has been suitable for fattening the cattle the growth of wool has been discarded for butter or cheese. It is this increase which is causing a decrease m our flocks, shown by the last returns, together with the losses by severe, snow- j storms m the South. There is every reason to expect increased yields of milk, owing to the greater attention given to the testing of the cows and extra food provided for winter feeding, and green food supplied m the height ( of summer when the grass has dried lip. The increase, however, is much slower than it ought to be, and were dairy farmers as keen to hnprora their herds as they are to exiract the last halfpenny out of the companies which deal with their milk, we might expect a million sterling from this source. Hero science has provided the means for improvement, and the farmer has neglected to take advantage of it. Science, too, has been very actire m helping dairy factories to benefit from by-products. Dried milk has for the time beine reoetrod « «et-bsefc, owing to the fall m price, though it will yet be successful ; but the market will require to be- • carefully fed and not overstocked. The pig industry has been somewhat neglected because , of the increase of cheese, and therefore the decrease of skim milk ; but, properly managed, there is room for a great increase ii the number, as they are the most profitable animals grown. A great deal of our land requires drainage, but this iB an expensive improvement, and where it can be done machinery must be used, if there is much to do. With regard to meat; the prospect for fat lambs is_ good, and the prices are such as to stimulate the numbers bred and frozen. There can be considerable expansion m this branch of fanning. Other fats are not likely to meet such a good market. Wool is at present tfce doubtful product, but signs are not wanting that European countries ; will be able to absorb some of the suri plus wool m the hands of the Imperial 1 Government. If the surplus is materially decreased, the future of the demand for our chief products is fairly good. Meanwhile farmers can increase products, and they must bp encouraged to do so; but this is somewhat dependent upon the cost of production, and the advice is sound "to produce more and spend less." I have no doubt that farmers will do their part.