PRIZES FOR SMALL FARMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9173, 5 August 1890, Page 3

PRIZES FOR SMALL FARMS.

TO T.'IE EDITOR. Sib, —I have bean much interested in reading a letter in yesterday's paper on “ Progressive Agriculture," where the writer urges you to use your influence to induce the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to bestow more attention on the agricultural part of their programme, and I quite agree with him in his ideas of the great wealth that would be produced—the effect of which would be felt quite aa much by us townspeople as by the farmers themselves it additional land were brought into cultivation, and if the farming of what is already under the plough were improved. Last year the Association made a great step in the right direction by offering prizes for the best kept small farms. There were not many competitors for the prizes, but quite aa many as could have been expected the flret year; and even our Governor showed hia sympathy with the undertaking by sending a medal for one of tho unsuccessful competitors. 1 had hopes that these small farm prises would certainly be continued every year; bub 1 look in vain in the papers for any mention of it this year, so that I um afraid the whole thing is going to be quietly dropped. I see that a meeting of all members of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association is announced to taka place in a few days to consider, among other things, the building of n new grand stand, which will no doubt attract a great number of persons to the Kovember show, and thereby muse increase the funds of the Society. I know that it is the fashion just now oven in .England to offer pr.z-js for the best hunters and backs at Agricultural Shows, and we are quite right to make our shows aa attractive as possible, but surely it is not right to forget these farm prizes which, although they make no show on the AiuiugUm gioui a.-, n:e of such great impoi taue6 to tho count ty; and I wouoer that no abler pen than mine should have noticed the omission. From inquiries I have made I find that

these small farm prizes are considered quite an extra affair, and are only to be supported by special donations, though to my idea the' improvement of the laid, of anything relating to it, ought certainly to be considered by us-of quite-as much importance as the rearing of cattle, sheep, horses or pigs. Still hoping that somebody else may take up’this important subject,—! am, &c.,' D. B.