SMALL FARMING IN OTAGO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3042, 26 March 1881, Page 4

SMALL FARMING IN OTAGO.

A prize of considerable value was offered by tho proprietors of tho Otago Witness for the best essay on the above subject, and Messrs Donald Rcid, Henry Clark, and Janies Shaud uudertook the duties of examnera. The prize has been awarded to Mr George Jacksons, a farm labourer at Mount Hyde. The first portion of the essay deals ■with the oharaefcer of the land in Otago, and the writor then proceeds to deal with "AMINO- THE LAND. Having glanced at the material on which the small fanner has to work, we now come to what is perhaps more immediately the subject of the paper—namely, tho cultivation of the land, together with a consideration of some agricultural questions at present engaging a good deal of attention. To begin with Ploughing.—The subject of deep cultivation has been largely dispussed, and the folly of a mere surface dressing has been repeatedly exposed. Watch the common ploughman breaking up land which has lain in grass for some years. How carefully he confines himself to the few inches at the top which have previously been cultivated! When it is considered that the wheat plant sends its roots as far below the surface as the stalk rises above (if it can get), we see bow important it must be to have the subsoil stirred up. The object is. not to bring new and unworked soil to the top, but to open up the subsoil, and thus bring it under the influence of the fertilising elements, moisture, heat, and manure. Tho subsoilor very commonly used is an ordinary plough minus the moulboard. This certainly appears to be a very clumsy device, and unworthy of the mechanical genius of the nineteenth century. Where the bottom is stiff the process of subsoilincr, even if only carried out one year, nt the beginning of a rotation, would be found most advantageous. In some cases, however, where the bottom is free and loamy, the process may be superfluous.

The necessity for having the ground thoroughly pulverised has bpen recognised from time immemorial. When this is thoroughly performed, the roots have ready access to the whole strength of the soil, and at the same time the land retains its moisture for a mucl'> longer period. The quantity of seed required per acre varies a good deal according' to circumBfcances. It hns been proved at home that one bushel of wheat was sufficient, while over fifty bushels have been reaped on land sown with only one-fourth that amount. It must be remembered, however, that these results were obtained by the use of improved sowing-machines. So long as the broadcast system prevails, large allowance must be made for loss ; and I believe the general opinion of the farming community favor 3 at least two bushels of wheat and three of oats.

The young crop should be carefully rolled, care being taken that the machine used is not too heavy. When it is feared that the straw will be too rank if allowed to grow without interference, sheep are sometimes turned on to prune it down. This practice should be followed sparingly, and where unavoidable the flock should be shepherded ■with care and gently worked over the whole field.

When harvest comes round wheat may be cut before quite ripe. The clanger of loss from shaking is thus in part obviated, while the grain is in no way damaged. To secure a good sample of barley, however, it must be left till fully ripe.

In the process of stacking the main point to be observed is that the centre of the 9taek is kept well tip, the butts of the sheaves having thus a slight inclination downward throw the rain oil instead of allowing it to run into the heart. Where intended to stand for any length of time before threshing they should bo promptly and securely thatched.

The fluctuating state of colonial markets renders the observance of a fixed rotation of crops well nigh impossible. The farmer, instead of binding himself to a cast-iron succession, must be prepared to accommodate himself to the demand likely to exist for his produce. At the same time attention to a few familiar facts will prevent him from unduly exhausting his land of any one of its constituents. Wheat requires favorable conditions, and draws very heavily from the soi'. A good crop of wheat proves that the ground is in good fettle ; has, in fact, some considerable reserves behind. The oat is a coarse, all-devouring plant, and may be grown until the land is fairly played out. The large call made by a crop of potatoes is more than counterbalanced by the manure and the extra amount of cultivation bestowed.

.Amongst the cereals on which the small farmer has to depend the chief one is, and probably will continue to be, wheat. A recent colonial writer has placed the action of the bluestone washing of seed wheat in a somewhat intelligible position. The preparation removes part of the outer coating of the seed, and this peculiarity causes the plant to part more readily with its fertilising pollen. It is therefore unnecessary that more than half the seed should be steeped so that the whole may be fertilised ; and, again, the grain from steeped seed will not require to be itself prepared when being sown. The writers considers that the practice of steepin!! year after yenr makes the coating too thin, and tints liable to the little understood disease of blii'lit. It is to be regret ed that he does not give the strength of the mixture used in his experiments, but he has done good service in pointing out the clanger of permanent injury being done to this, our principal cereal. Between blight on the one extreme and smut on the other, tho correct medium is only to be learnt by a course of carefully conducted experiments. For this purpose only a few poles of land are required, and the results gained would be of the utmost value. The nature ol the land and the state of the season will determine whethev spring or autumn will be the best time to sow. If the latter, it is obvious that the land will have to stand a long, steady drain on its resources, arid, accordingly, if manured, a kind should be used such as that from the stockyard, which will last during tho growth of the plant to maturity. Spring-sown wheat will be greatly assisted at the start by a moderate sprinkling of some sharp manure, such as guano or bonedust.

After wheat, the cereal next in importance is oats. A very considerable extent of the province is specially adapted for its growth, and there can be no doubt the success of many of our small farmers will depend on the price ruling for this grain. The cost of raising the crop per acre, including cultivation, rent, seed, and harvesting, may be stated at 45s to 50s. From this it would appear that land producing 50 bushels and upwards will be cultivated so long as a price of Is can be obtained on tho farm ; 40 bushels would require Is 3d ; 30 bushels, Is 6cl to Is Bd. It is evident that recently farmers have been raising oats in many districts at a price which did not give them anything like market value for their labour. The value of the straw, though appreciable, does not more than cover the risk of failure. As in the former case, the timo for sowing will depend on circumstances. Should any learner wish to have more definite information, let him refer to the almanacs : for good round assertion they aro worthy of all praise. It is satisfactory to learn that there is a good prospect of colonial oats being placed in the London market at a figure which will be remunerative to the grower. The exportation of oats has never been taken up with any degree of spirit heretofore, but a more enterprising feeling seems to be afoot this year, jtfow that the problem of sending Home meat —and even butter— has been solved, surely we have heard tho last of the cry that oats won't stand tho sea Toyage. For seed oats, Tartarians —the short for milling the long for feed —are perhaps as good as any. Where late sowing cannot be avoided, Canadians may be used as coming fastest to maturity. Barley is a crojs which requires the most favourable circumstancea —a light, dry soil,

and free from weeds. In a rotation it does j best after turnips, and the seed should be carefully selected. In harvest the softness of the straw makes ib necessary that the sheaves should bo thoroughly dry before staking, so that unfavourable weather frustrates the farmer's best efforts after a bright sample. In threshing, great cave is necessary to prevent the grain being broken, and thus rendered unsuitable for malting. Lastly the straw is of little value, and should be used only for bedding. As a per contra to these disadvantages, the yield is generally good ; the price for a good malting sample is remunerative ; and the crop is not an exhaustive one on the soil. The LyHelton Times lately asserted that from one grain of barley, in the Halswcll district, 31 ears and 1126"grains were produced. As agriculture advances, and proper sowing machines are introduced, the wasteful system of broadcast sowing will be discontinued, and the New Zealander of the nineteenth—or perhaps twentieth—century will receive at least as good a return as the hundredfold of the patriarch Isaac. When laying down a field in grass, the common method is to put in the seed at the same time witli the last white crop of the rotation. Some high authorities have objected to this course that, as both crops require almost the same elements from the soil, they compete with and impoverish each other. This objection does not seem to be of sufficient weight to warrant the farmer in going for a year without any return from bis field, more especially where the rotations are rapid. The white crop may be sown thin, and allowed to have a start of the grass until rolling time, when the latter may be sown with advantage ; 251b to 351b of perennial rye-grass, with 101b of other grasses and clovers mixed, will be found_ a suitable quantity per acre. After the white crop is removed, if convenient, young cattle should be pastured on the now grass for some time. Cows tear the plants up by the roots, while sheep snip the blades off so close to the ground a* to deprive the plants of their means of drawing support from the atmosphere. Few consk'.v how much vegetation of every kind receives from this latter source. In the matter of rearing and keeping Stock generally, it should be remembered that a°well-bred animal costs no more to maintain than the veriest" scrubber." Upstanding hacks, spring cart horses, but more especially substantial Clydesdales, are always in demand j while light, racy-looking animals with a suspicion of the thorough-bred about them are a continued nuisance, and in the end a source of loss to the breeder. The same principle obtains amongst all classes of stock whatever. Amongst horned cattle I should recommend the small farmer to confine his attention to the rearing of dairy cows. He can always purchase bis young stores at a moderate figure off some of the stations in the interior where the rearing of such is earned on extensively. From the same source his flock should be obtained, and, if necessary, replenished. The breeding of pigs should be left to a few specialists in that line. The small farmer must not look upon himself as a Jack-ot-all-trades." The division of laboi' ( specialisation of function " is perhaps more learned term) is a great principle ]>' in g afc the foundation of all true progress ii. 1 tne aits.

To the success of dairying two things are needful —firstly, a dairy with a cool, even temperature; and secondly, the strictest attention to cleanliness. Dairy cows should be pastured near a plentiful supply of clear water, and should always be handled tenderly, both when being driven to yard and.: when being milked. The latter processshould be finished with some pains ,• the milk last drawn contains the most cream.

Large shallow milk dishes are a mistake. The cream rises just as well from some depth ; while the large surface exposed can scarcely avoid contracting more or le3s taint from impurities in the air. The milk should stand 12 hours in summer, and somewhat longer in winter, before being skimmed. Churning should be slowly performed, so as not to raise the temperature of the churn, and should occupy pbout half-an-hour. If the cream be too cold a little warm water may be added ; if too warm a little cold milk. This latter fact is not generally known, and was recently pointed out by an able essayist in New South Wales. If a very rich cheese is required, add to the morning's milk the cream collected on the previous evening's supply. The difficulty of getting a sufficient quantity of milk in one clay to make a fair-sized cheese places the small dairyman afc some disadvantage. In America this evil has been remeded by the erection of co-opera-tive dairies where the supply of a whola country side is made up together. It; would perhaps be permature to recommend their establishment here. Still the work of the dairy falls so heavily on the female portion of our community that numbers would gladly make some sacrifice to get rid of such a laborious duty. Let the wives and daughters of Otago take the matter into consideration, and we shall presently find " overtures there anent " coming up in all quarters. Iv'o farmyard is complete without a good pigstye. Nearly every year the farmer finds one or the other of his crops almost unsaleable, as for instance, potatoes last season. When converted into pork or bacon they find a ready market. Growing pigs should have a yard to run about in, and should not be kept in high condition. When fullgrown a smaller pen, well supplied with litter and thoroughly comportable, should be provided ; on a free diet the pig will itnorove rapidly, and should be converted into pork before be becomes too fat. Poultry, if kept for their eggs, should be shut tip in a convenient house; feed regularly twice a day. and allow thorn free acfess to plenty of fresh water or, better still, to milk. In winter scraps of meat should be added to their regular fare. Only young hens are good layers, and the eggs should be removed regularly evovy forenoon. Besides these, however, the farmer should have plenty of fowls foraging about his yard. Provided with a suitable place to roost during the night, they will prosper without requiring much attention, and will keep his table well supplied. Moreover, they are energetic destroyers of insects. For laying, the Spanish breed are very good; the outdoor fowls should be assorted kinds. The small farmer's attitude towards improvements in machinery should be something like that described in these lines by Pope:— Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay tha old aside. A good example of this may be seen in the self binding reapers. Tho method of tying witli wire rendered them unsafe to one who required all his straw. This defect has been removed, and the string binder should be welcomed as a relief from the caprice of unreasonable harvest hands. Let neighbours combine in the purchase of these machines, if individually unable to spare the price. The formation of a farmer's union is being advocated by a Mr Bateman, of Timaru. Tho formation of co-operative societies is a striking feature in the history of the past 40 years. The principle on which they are founded is an admirable one, whilst their success has been something surprising.

Recent Victorian papers give an account of a competition lately instituted by W. J. Clarke amongst the tenant farmers in the Bellarat district. This example is well worthy of being imitated by some of our agricultural societies. During the past season five shows have been held in the distance between Dunedin and Balclutha. In many eases the same animals were pitted against each other time after time. Were a little of this ill-directed zeal bestowed on tho improvement of farming the result would be more satisfactory. The published decisions and remarks of competent judges would compel the most conservative to give up old-fashioned prejudices, and acknowledge that " we live to learn,"

The leading agricultural journal of Great Britain recently committed itself to the opinion that the farmer of the future must bo a man of education and capital. If these terms mean that ho must be the graduate of some University, and commence with a good balance at his bankers, we would respectfully demur: but if they mean that the farmer must be trained in business, versed in all its details, and not afraid to expend the best of his time and strength on his land, then we quite agree. That Otago may never have to lament the want of such men is the best wish of YOBICK.