AUSTRALIAN' AGRICULTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 9095, 29 March 1893, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN' AGRICULTURE.

[From <»ni Special Correspondent.] L >m>on, February 17. It having transpired that Professor Wallace meant to discus* extensively the dairy produce and frozen meat industries in the course of his paper on ; Australasian Agriculture," there was a great gathering of experts and persons interested in these trades at the Colonial Institute on Tuesday evening. Lord Aberdeen presided, supported by Sir Robert Hamilton, General Edwards, and all the Agents-General except Sir John Bray, who was otherwise engaged. I also noticed Messrs Fred Dutton and Archibald Arbuthnot, of South Australia ; and Messrs George Cowie, J. M. Clark, and Alexander Sclanders, of New Zealand. Others interested included Messrs Nelson, Weddell, J. M. Grant, R. P.. Clayton, Arthur Clayden, and F. Hovenden. In many respects the professor's paper was a great disappointment; it lacked originality, and contained few suggestions of value. The subject, indeed, was far too big to tackle in a Colonial Institute paper, and Mr Wallace seems to have recognised the fact. He first drew attention to

WHEAT-CROWING, and on this theme mainly confined himself to the question of cross-fertilisation as a preventive of rust in wheat. The professor has no great belief in the Strausoniser and other crop-washing machines, and considers that the greatest prospect of success in the war against rust is to be found in the results of experiments on cross-fertilisa-tion now being carried on in England and the Antipodes. Once varieties with sufficient strength to resist the attack or to combat the parasite in the event of its becoming established are secured, the professor considers the wheat-growing area in the colonies will be greatly augmented. He considers that portion of South Australia which is now farmed for wheat is less suited to growing abundant crops than much of the mltivable land in other colonies, owing to the limited rainfall, and to the methods of cultivation necessary on this account. Mr Wallace, by the way, does not condemn the burning of the straw where crops are light and the grain is collected by means of the stripper. The method may be wasteful, but it is nevertheless useful as a means of destroying insects and the germs of rust, which would reappear in greater numbers the following year. The professor did not consider New Zealand seriously as a wheat-producing country, but remarked that the colony offered the British farmer a lesson in the production of moderate crops at the lowest possible cost per unit, which he would do well to learn and put in practice during periods of depression and low prices. From wheat-growing Mr Wallace turned to the FROZKN MI'TTON TRADE, }

in regard to which lie hati little to say that was new. He looks forward to a very large increase in the Australian exports during the next few years, to great improvements iu the quality of the mutton by reason of crossing the present merino flocks with longwool sheep, suitable rams of which will be available so soon as the embargo put upon the importation of sheep from New Zealand on account of "scab" is removed. "There is no r jason," says the professor, " to believe that the cross-breds which will be produced iu Australia within the next four years will not he in. every respect as suitable for the European market as the sheep which are now sent from New Zealand." But Mr Wallace recognises the fact that Australia cannot from year to year maintain so easily as New Zealand can a uniform standard of quality of the mutton exported owing to the droughts —" a drawback difficult to overcome as regards the fattening of; stock, although the resulting loss as measured by the death rate can be minimised.'' There is, he says, a widespread tendency with Australian stock inanagei-3 to overstock pasture in seasons of plentiful feed, which has resulted in its deterioration by the " eating-out and consequent disappearance of many of the best grasses, 'salt-bush,'etc., and in the development of parasitic worms, whichnotonly reduce the condition of the flocks, but also considerably increase the annual loss by death." In concluding this portion of his address Mr Wallace offered the up-country pastoralist a suggestion regarding the disposal of his surplus stock. ''The return to be realised by ' boiling down' has so diminished, owing to the fall in the prices of fat and other products, that it is necessary to look, if possible, to the development of some other means by which surplus stock may be disposed of to greater advantage. The increas-

ing number of freezing works in Australia can only absorb a portion of the best classes of'the annual cast of surplus sheep; and, as tinned mutton only fetches about 4d per lb in London, I would suggest that an effort be made to convert into mutton 'hams the hindquarters or other parts suitable for that purpose. Hams of home-grown mutton are sold in Edinburgh at Is per lb, and 1 am confident if the bones were removed and the ' jigots' preserved by the ' sweetcuring process;' which employs sugar and spice, and only a limited amount of salt and saltpetre, a market for colonial mutton ham might be developed iu this country. The lean condition of the merino would rather be an advantage than otherwise for the purpose of ham-curing." Passing to the

FROZEN BEEF TRADE, The professor vigorously combated the assertion that the United States will soon be able to consume all the beef the country can produce. He has carefully studied the whole question on the spot, aud it appears to him that " the limit of the increased beef production is not within the range of prospective vision." As to the same argument which has been used in connection with the mutton and beef supplies of Australia, the professor says that when the time arrives that Australia will be capable of consuming the whole of her mutton and beef produce " the great question of the overpopulation of the universe will probably have been under serious consideration for generations." In regard to the EXPORTATION- OK HORSES,

Mr Wallace is of opinion that there is little prospect of establishing a trade with the Home Country; but he believes that Australian horses will continue to be in demand as remounts for the Indian army, although efforts are being made to improve the breed of the Indian animal. On the rabbit question and tho labor question Professor Wallace had nothing to say either fresh or of value; and when touching on

LAND TENURE he kept clear, as far as possible, of controversial matter. The universal tendency in both Australia and New Zealand is, by popular vote, to make laws which will lead to the breaking up of large properties into small holdings. "Though," says the professor, " there are advantages attending this method of procedure, yet there are serious drawbacks, which may result in retarding the progress of the colonics. The forcible interference, even in the name of justice to the greater number, with what arc generally acknowledged in civilised communities to be private rights, is a divergence from economic laws which may not stop at land, and which may develop in lines calculated to drive capital from the country." The New Zealand graduated progressive landed property tax and the proposed Victorian legislation to tax absentee proprietors both tend to the breaking up of large holdings, and, owing to the amount of land thrown into the market, also to the reduction of the value of landed property, land in New Zealand, Mr Wallace thinks, is likely for a time to be more abundant than purchasers: and, he says, " though it may be well for a country to have an increased number of small holdings, it is not advantageous to induce those who have been reared in towns, and are not capable of managing laud, to attempt to take up farms on their own account, as such a course can only end iu failure." To those interested in

WOOL I'ROnUCTIOX the lecturer gave a glimpse of a bright future. By way of a beginning he remarked that the United States are not well suited for sheep-rearing, and therefore the production of wool, as well as of mutton, must necessarily be limited. This holds out the prospect of a large and important market for colonial produce in the not very distant future. When the great North-west of Canada is ultimately settled a large amount of wool will naturally be required in that cold region : so that, although the growth of wool in Australasia has been phenomenal during recent years, there is still room for development. So far consumption has kept pace with supply. Not only does Mr Wallace look to the north-west of Canada; he is sanguine that as the vast populations of India increase in wealth a large market will be found for goods made from line merino wool in that comparatively naked section of the British Empire. He also looks to China and Japan as centres of consumption in the future, "because it is well known to those of us who have felt the comforts of woollen clothes that the properties of woollen stuffs are to be as highly appreciated and are as valuable in extremes of heat as in extremes of cold." From wool the lecturer ran on to

DAIRYING, into which lie went more fully than the preceding subjects. ' ; Our colonists have shown themselves alive to the importance of developing new and varied sources of income, and in no branch have the energetic and praiseworthy efforts of selfhelp been more fruitful of success than in the growth of the dairying industry/' said Mr Wallace in beg'n ting. He is of opinion that Australian and NeV Zealand butter has already established itself as a necessity in Oreat Britain, and that in common parlance "it has come to stay." Danish butter, which still holds the lead in the matter of price, is in reality, says Mr Wallace, not equal to the butter which is now coming from Victoria; but local prejudice and trade connection have so far maintained the position of the Continental product. The competition of Australasian butter has, however, lowered the price of Danish bv some 15s per cwt., and the lecturer is at one with the people who aver that the time is not far distant when the gras3 butter of the Antipodes will be quoted at a higher figure than the best Danish, which is made under the unfavorable circumstances associated with the winter season in a European climate. Professor Wallace opined that Australasia would not be able to take part successfully in our cheese supply ; and, though acknowledging the excellence of New Zealand cheese, he thinks the trade will not long survive. He seems to be under the impression that cheese is carried usually as ordinary cargo, for he remarks that '' the cost of transit, which in times of depression is little, comes to a more important item when trade is prosperous." Personally, I think his view of New Zealand's prospects in the Home cheese market is unnecessarily pessimistic, and is formed on unreliable data. Canada holds an advantage .over New Zealand in respect to cost of transit, but in no other particular ; and if New Zealanders only take sufficient trouble to study the wants of the Home people in the matter of cheese there is no reason to believe but that a profitable and by no means inconsiderable trade may develop. In concluding this portion of his paper, Mr Wallace paid a pretty compliment to Australasia. He said : "Though our colonies are comparatively young and in many matters inexperienced, and only in the probationary and experimental stages, yet there are many things in which we would do well to follow their example. We might take a leaf out of the colonial book in regard to the success attending the fostering of certain industries, which up till now our great commercial success and equally great national pride have prevented anything but private enterprise from touching. And, again, in the distribution of reliable information good would unquestionably result from the establishment of such a bureau of agriculture as may bo found in South Australia." The final portion of the paper was occupied with

CURRENCY CONSIDERATION'S, v which Mr Wallace considers are a most important study for the colonial farmer. Much, he remarked, has been said and written against the spirit of gambling which has been encouraged from time to time during the history of the colonies by successful ventures in the goldrlelds j but, admitting that many have been ruined by it both morally and financially, upon the whole the mining industry has been one of the leading influences, if not the actual mainspring, of the country's rapid progress. . . , But for her gold and silver Australasia might at this day have been financially little better than the Argentine, where the premium upon gold has almost extinguished the most important branches of her commerce with Europe. Australia is not without her monetary difficulties, and the stoppage of one of the Australian banks is a warning that the path of the financier is beset with quicksands. Those who take a narrow view of the position will, no doubt, attribute all this to the baneful reaction resulting from the speculative boom whiqh overtook the

colonies a few years ago; but there are not a few who will discern" the writing of the finger on the wall relative to the unsoundness of the basis of the currency of the British Empire and the leading nations of the European Continent ana' North America, and that a remedy is urgently required in the direction of bi-metallism, or some alternative means whereby the standard of currency may be more fixed and more firmly maintained. It be argued that Australasia, with her gold mines, ought to benefit by the appreciation of gold—amounting to 35 or 40 par cent, during the lait twenty years. But the gold diggers are not the men who borrow the money used in trade, and their prosperity does not relieve the strain put upon the finances of commercial men ; or of pastoralists, whose income is derived from the sale of commodities which have deteriorated in value, owing to currency influences, to an extent equal at all events to the appreciation in the value of gold. ... It matters not how well the colonial farmer may attend to his business, and how well he may succeed in producing the article wanted in the British market, if there is a subtle influence at work, which, apart altogether from the effects of competition and of production, tends to reduce the price of everything he has to sell, and has already shown its influence by a reduction of 35 per cent, without in any way approaching the limit of its power for evil, then, I say, ruin stares thousands in the face. Few doubt, who have studied the bearings of the situation, but that the bottom has fallen out of our monetary system by the influence of the changes which have followed the unfortunate departure from the system of bi-metallism in 1873. Great Britain being the most wealthy, and, at the same time, the greatest commercial nation, will be by far the greatest sufferer from the depreciation in the value of capital and the shrinkage of trade which has already begun and is proceeding all too rapidly. But the colonies, so united in trade and in sympathy with the Mother Country, cannot by any means escape the evil influence of the impending crisis. The older nations in their time-worn grooves are apt to neglect the lessons so plainly taught by the progressive economic science of the present day. But Australasia ought not to be ranked in that category, and by giving timely warning might exercise a salutary influence upon the weak-kneed economists who stand aside to view the impending downfall of the greatest commercial nation of the nineteenth century.

THE DISCUSSION. The discussion was opened by Sir Robert Hamilton, who, after some general remarks (mainly on the mineral wealth of Tasmania), gave ns a brief idea of his own notion of an agriculturist's education. According to him the farmer's curriculum should include a smattering of geology, chemistry, engineering, meteorology, botany, and bookkeeping. The currency question, Sir Robert thought, should be left to statesmen and Governments, for no matter the amount of attention farmers paid to the subject they were not likely to shed any fresh light thereon. Sir James Garriek followed, and at some length went over much old ground, winding up with references to the Queensland floods. At ten o'clock Mr Perceval rose to speak. He had prepared a careful review of the professor's paper, but in kindness to the audience confined himself to brief generalities. Sir Saul Samuel followed next, and reminded his hearers that Mr Wallace had entirely forgotten the wine industry, of the prospects of which he himself was enamored. Sir Saul begged to differ with Mr Wallace on the question of bi-metallism. The discussion was continued by Mr Fred Dutton, who spoke in terms of high praise of the work going on at the Colonial College and training farms; by Mr Goodsir (of Weddel and Co.), who expressed an opinion that as soon as beef could be brought from the Antipodes in a chilled condition, and not frozen, the Americans would have to clear out of the market: and by Mr Moncrieff Paul, who said this last point was simply a question of underwriting. At present, unless meat from Australia was frozen it could not be insured, but in a short time, doubtless, they would find chilled meat successfully imported from Australia to England. The Earl of .Aberdeen offered a few remarks, and, Professor Wallace having replied, the company dispersed.