NEW PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 25 October 1845, Page 135

NEW PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE.

The first Report of your society, established only six months, cannot be expected to contain much actual information on the subjects discussed, yet the experiments which have been instituted through the instrumentality of this society, the results of which cannot he ascertained until the approaching harvest, leads us to hope that the foundation of much good has been already laid. The first subject which engaged your attention was " the growth of English flax and the probability of its success in New Zealand." To Mr. Flight we are indebted for drawing our attention to an article which may probably become the chief export from New Zealand, or at all events from Taranaki. The result of two evenings' discussion was the firm conviction in the minds of all present, that the English flax, or (to adopt the distinctive name given it to distinguish it from the indigenous flax of the country) the Anglo-New Zealand flax, was peculiarly suited to our soil and climate. This was no theoretical conclusion, but one arrived at from the results of an actual experiment, and come to by practical men used to the cultivation of the article in England ; who were convinced, from the quality of the sample grown and the amount of the produce, and from calculations of the expense of cultivation and the probable value in England, that the cultivation of the Anglo-New Zealand flax would be a very profitable occupation. It is much to be regretted that these results were not known in time to obtain seed for the present season ; orders have, however, been sent to England for a supply, and samples of the flax forwarded to manufacturers there, who will be able at once to determine the value of it. To the Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company here and the Principal Agent at Wellington, this society have to express their thanks for the promptitude with which they undertook to forward these samples to England. The importance of your second subject of inquiry, "the most effectual remedy for the cure of smut in wheat," cannot be over-rated, owing to the seed, which was obtained from a neighbouring colony, being mostly infected with smut. Several actual experiments were detailed at this meeting, the results of which encourage us to hope that, with due attention, this destructive disorder may be cured, or at all events so subdued as not to be of material injury to the farmer. The next subject, " the best means of protecting the barley crop from the ravages of the caterpillar, and the crop most likely to pay, wheat or barley," was one which elicited much valuable information as to the proper time of sowing barley, so as to avoid the ravages of the caterpillar, which attacks the grain at the period of its ripening. Great diversity of opinion was expressed on this point ; the results of the different periods of sowing this spring will, it is to be hoped, enable us another season to save this valuable crop. No means at present have been discovered to destroy the insects themselves, although the extension of cultivation will, it is thought, greatly lessen their numbers. From the disadvantages to which barley is subject in this respect, the opinion of the meeting was decidedly in favour of wheat ; although, from the circumstance of barley being higher in price than wheat in the neighbouring colonies, great exertions should be made to grow this article, particularly as it is believed that, as regards the climate and the quality of the water, we have a decided advantage over the Australian colonies in brewing. " The woods of New Zealand, more particularly of this settlement, their uses, and the probability of their becoming articles of export," was the inquiry which next engaged your attention. From the information given at this meeting, it appears that our settlement produces several valuable woods, at the head of which stands the rimu, the most valuable both for building and furniture, and, so far as our knowledge extends, the most valuable also to export to England and the neighbouring colonies. For agricultural purposes, the puridi, the rato, and the matepo have been found to answer exceedingly well ; the first, in particular, has furnished very good cogs for the wheels of the two flour-mills in this settlement. Very good timber also abounds for the purposes of boat building and for staves ; and it is much to be regretted that arrangements have not been made to supply ourselves with casks, an article now required for salt pork, and the demand for which is likely to increase largely as the settlement progresses. Tanning barks have also been discovered and used with the greatest success, boots now being made from leather manufactured in the settlement. The next subject was, " the best artificial food for cattle ;" and,, in the discussion of this inquiry, it was satis-

factorily ascertained that very heavy crops of the different roots used for that purpose had been grown, more particularly of carrots and turnips.* White and red clover have also been grown with the greatest success. The last subject discussed by your society was, " the best remedy for the cure of cattle affected by eating tutu." The best remedy stated, and that in violent cases quite an ineffectual one, was bleeding. The loss of time in finding cattle turned loose, and the damage often done by them in this state, together with the risk from the tutu, and, above all, the comparatively trifling expense of growing food for them, will, there is little doubt, induce all parties to keep their cattle up.

Having thus given a brief sketch of the different subjects which have been brought under your notice, it will, we think, at once be admitted that this society is likely to be of the greatest benefit. If in England, where they have had the same soil to work upon for ages, it is thought advisable to have agricultural societies in order to institute experiments and give premiums for the best methods of raising crops and for the best agricultural implements, how much more are they needed in a new country where everything has to be learnt ? What has raised the value of land in parts of Scotland from a rent of five shillings or six shillings an acre to two or three pounds ? — The improved system of agriculture, which has converted the Scotch from the worst to the best farmers in Great Britain, and land, of which it took three or four acres to keep a horse in a half-starved state, into fertile fields producing four, five, and six quarters of wheat per acre. And what was the origin of this improvement ? The Highland Agricultural Society, supported, and well supported, too, by the Scotch landlords and farmers, who saw how much good such a society could effect. Enough has been said to prove the usefulness of such societies as these ; but it must be borne in mind that, as we have no long subscription list to give premiums for information, we must ourselves furnish that information by carefully noting every particular of every proceeding, so that by comparing them with others we may arrive in due time at the proper seasons and methods of pursuing our occupation. A very carefuj account has been drawn up of the amount of land now in cultivation, from which may be gathered the cheering fact, that, notwithstanding the great difficulties the settlers have had to contend with during the last two years, they have not allowed themselves to be cast down, but have manfully met those difficulties, pushing forward the plough wherever the natives would allow them to do so. The following is the account alluded to: — Acres. Wheat 635* Barley 128* Oats 75 Potatoes 984 Turnips 364 Grass 944 Artificials 14 Garden 24 Flax * 11064 Cultivated land taken possession of by the natives 2364 1343 Quantity of land cleared in June, 1844 880 Increase of cultivation in the last fifteen months 463 Tons. 635 i acres wheat yielding i of a ton of flour, or 28 bushels per acre . 423 Estimated consumption 3 tons a week 156 Probable surplus of flour . . 267 Bushels. 1284 acres barley at 25 bushels per acre 3212 Consumed in the settlement, say . 1606 Probable surplus available for exportation 1606 1,606 bushels, at 45 bushels barley to the ton of freight, gives 35 tons, which, with the flour, shows 302 tons to export from the produce of the land alone ; added to this is the salt pork trade, which, with other articles, would, there is no doubt, increase the amount to 400 tons, sufficient to keep a vessel of fifty or sixty tons fully employed ; allowing for detentions, and one or two trips elsewhere about the time of harvest.

With this account the Report of your society closes ; and, as it establishes the fact of a very great advance in prosperity during the last twelvemonths, under the greatest disadvantages, we look forward confidently

* In, allusion to this subject by our Taranaki correappndent in the Nekon Examiner of the 13tb September last, there is an error in the statement of the quantity of turnips said to have been grown to the acre in that district. Instead of "130" tons it should hare been 60 tons.

to the continued success of our endeavours, and with hope that the time mil shortly arrive when we shall he enabled to carry on our operations without molestation, and with greater vigour than circumstances have hitherto allowed us to do. R. Chiiman, Honorary Secretary. New Plymouth, Sept. 17, 1845.