The Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant la verite. SATURDAY. MAY 19, 1883. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 139, 19 May 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant la verite. SATURDAY. MAY 19, 1883. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

fe.elin? ia: :th]s ..portion o£ ManawfttUA.wiJl; awaken. JBgme day to the preat benefits conferred by the exis*r tence of Agricultural Societies m every •aisWcFan^fc^Mfer -As an element of progre e s such organizations -are simply myaluoHei— Properly managed they are a srurce of great strength to the farmers, whose . interests -, these , ipstitutions mater'iially cbnserve/ Even with" small means they can achieve immense Rood, The work of opening up new industries of a character suitable to special localities, we look upon, aa ? heir particular sphere and most important 'function". The Federal Australian advises that instesd of devoting so much money as prizes for live stock, they should expend more m other directions.. There are many industries that would prove suitable to particular districts, if fairly tried, • and expenditure incurred by societies m endeavouring to develop them would be Tnopey:iwiißjrfyj;mveßte^^jQur icontemi porary considers that the great evil of farming m this part of tho woHd is to depend too much upon cereal crops, theij^cuUivatiqn being very uncertain, owing to the nature of the climate. Tn time tbey will doubtless be supplanted by other crpps that ar^ .better adapted to the local conditions, and it should be the aim of the various agricultural to assist m bringirg about desirsble changes. This object may be attained, m a great measure, by offering liberal prizes for produce that can be raised m •a pWticula* district,- atid which is likely to prove a profitable industiy. A consideration m arranging for agricultural shows should be the inclusion , m the scheduler of prizes that will' stimulate the various farming industries that are suitable to a particujar district. One of 4he weakest- p'oin^'ihr.ihe - present system is the great sameness of agricultural shows, and that the exhibits are chiefly confined to live stock. Because ■ <■«*',"■! r> •"{ ?'■■ ■ ' ' '■ it has been considered' the- orthodox SJ t «— ■ .il ».) it.' ' v* ' * thina to ofif^r prizes for particular exhibits year after year, the managers of mo^of^he sooi.etiejß(appear k to be quite, content to follow iv the groove prepared for them, without consideration., They are too often inclined to go on as they have '%een doing, ' ; with'bu^ taking 'the trouble to consider whether; suits could not be obtained by leaving the^ b^ate'n<trackß 'and' taking -fresh departures. Then, again, /^society mjght, greatly benefit its members and district by collecting and^publishingiifiefuliintorm&tiou regarding the cultivation and preparation of crops that are but little known, but which might prove^rirtffitable. In ti;e aboy,e,.jajd l7 ;map.y,. ptHgr directions might an Agricultural Society■pfomet6'4he^» best inte'rl'sts bfthe'district m. which i^iß^^stabi'fehedi l^^'anS confer incalculable benefit on the. iwhoie community. We trust m the near future to ! see not one, but several of these excellent institutions enjoying, "a. flpujisbing and useful existence m and arund Manawatu. Unce4stAbl ; Bh ; ed,thtffr inestimable value will be universal jv -con-, ceded.