ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURE.

New Zealander, Volume 12, Issue 1116, 27 December 1856, Page 3

ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURE.

To Major Matson, M. P. C., Sfc., <s•<;. Sir, — I address to you the present 1 tier on the •ulijecl of the introduction ol a progressive development of ih ■ agricultural in ;voi' s of this 1 routine, consequence of your long standing as the the Agricultural Cluh. and also from the interest you kave ever taken in such matters since your location ns a land proprietor. Gintlcmen who ha v e become conspicuous from their social position, or from unwearied exertions in developing and advancing the internal interests of the country, wherein they have made their home, must always expect themselves to he looked upon as required t) concentrate, and to embody into available action, tho various suggestions which others may he able to contribute towards the common good . and so far from apologies Icing requisite tor this ap - parent intrusion upon the services and powers of suc.t gentlemen, it becomes a maik of just appreciation that such subjects be addressed to them. Your having been elected by a large majority to he one of the representatives of the miontal Capital—the City of Auckland—will in every teilcc five mind add much weight, and draw more especui attention to such measures as you would propouu i or recommend, as conducive to the Agricultural interests. And the exemplification in your election of the working of this rational reflection, —“ -I hat men of liberal and enlightened views arc at

all times preferable as legislative representatives, rather than the narrowing our choice hy the conclusion, that local property is essential to such selection,” —is n step of marked advancement in the general intelligence of the people, and tends to exhibit their he'tcr appreciation of the duties of a deliberative legislative council, over the exercise of merely the functions of a municipal body ; in which latter, perhaps, the simple act of apportioning a levy and disbursements of assessments, might with more propriety he deemed to demand a local interest. My having alluded to your recent election, renders it imperative for me here to observe, that 1 by no means intend to offer any comparison with the gentleman with whom you had to compete, through uncontrollable necessity; because it, is too generally acknowledged, thar the loss of that gentleman’s services, both to the City and the Province, is deeply to he deplored ; there being none more able or more valuable to the city constituency than he would have been. This accidental circumstance, which prevented both being returned—the one for the City, the other for the Suburbs—was an unfoi lunate collision, losing to the Province at least one valuable, man. in comparison with whom, taking him all in all. there are none now in that Council with whom he would not stand the strictest comparison. This explanatory testimony is required, lest any would hereafter suppose that I would cast a shadow of doubt on the just appreciation hy the constituency of that gentleman. 1 shall now, alter this preface, offer to you my suggestions— leaving you to act thereon us you feel disposed—remark in. l , however, that your usefulness will now be very much in teased, because to you mativ of the members will look, “for sound judgment and opinions in furtherance of the internal interest of the country; and while it will be your duty to bring your knowledge and local experience to hear on tho Council, you will most conscientiously so act,—it being a most important relative consequence, that the capital city must be greatly prospered or retarded in proportion as the interior of th“ country is brought into effective development, a wholesome system of culture introduced, scientific knowledge encouraged, and an increasing practical occupancy of the lands promoted.

It appears to me that the inefficiency of the Farmers’ Club t" promote these ends, and tlie embryo elements whereof it is composed, (which, indeed, would not lead us to indulge in great expectations,) call for some movement on the part of the guardians of the Provincial interests to lay tin. ground-work for the mental improvement of om young agriculturalists, and thus to bring to light a right exhibition of the character ol the New Zealand soils, as also the best mode of culture required to give stamina to Ottr products, and to exhibit the effect of periodic improvement. For these purposes, pecuniary aid should, I think, he given to the Club ; conditionally, and fur such uses as shall be specifically pointed out. A small sum, say £‘2oo. in addition to the individual subscriptions of the members of tlie Club; 1 think would he found sufficient to encourage such scientific results as would he of paramount benefit to the Province. The use of this money, I would suggest, should be entirely confined to Premiums. For instance ; For the best essay on the character of the New Zealand soils in different localities, as proved and displayed by scientific analysis. 2nd —On the component propertied strength, and mode of application of annual, vegetable, anPmineral manures. 3rd. —On the conclusive results of the best adaptations, the periodic enduring benefit, and the intrinsic value produced by given crops. 4th.—On the relative value of vegetable productions ; together with the sorts best assimilated to restore expenditure of soil. sth. — Thence, the deductions as to the necessary consequent rotations, reduced to a systematic arrangement. 6th. —Comparison of naked fallows and of grazing process. 7th. Advantages of green crops, feeding, folding, and fattening stock on surplus produce Bth.—Climatic position to he observed f-> r different kinds of plants—viz., roots, cereals, herbaceous and arboreous. Various other matters will be suggested to you, as also the most needful and beneficial older in which they should he taken ; bearing in mind the early inculcation of a right principle in the farming practice of the Province; the understanding' to he that every course of legitimate farm ng should lend to a constant improvement in the productive powers o( the land; and that no land can properly he said to he worn out except through the cupidity or ignorance ot tire manager. I think we might rely that premiums for such essays some extending provincially, some foreign—on th • most needful subjects, would be cheerfully responded io, and it scientifically, then to the lasting benefit ol the Province by the improvement of its farming science

Such documents beiiur registered would be available and useful tor reference lor year -1 to come, both to the new ini Migrant and the native born fanner. A crres|iondence established with some known Agricultural Society in Great Britain w mid a'so be of great value, particularly if such Society fot warded their pciiodicals and elementary papers. So soon as the rising Golouial tanners understand the advantages and true principles ol inproveintnt by soiling anAfolilin", we may expect to find them uniting small flocks of sheep to their agricultural lahou-s ; and the now supposed worthless lands will he in request hy them for sheep runs. 1 hey would he thus led to keep small herds ; shepherding them in commm during the dav, and folding them on their holdings at night, liy these means the small farmer of thirty or forty acres, would he benefited hy the foldinj, as well as saved from total los-y on future of a market for his agricultural crops. Perhaps even home-spun wool migh' come into colonial use. Yon, sir, must be aware in how blundering, specula tive, and inefficient a manner most of our tanning operations are carried on ; how many incompetent persons enter on them iu total ignorance ot this science —erroneously conceiving that the having land and iho putuig in of a crop for which there appears a temporary market, i- all that is necessary to bee me a rich landed proprietor ; and then, whenever a failure takes place, they lay the whole blam on the badness ol lb' - land nothing to their own want of knowledge -nor can we expect much otherwise in a young colony whose climate and soil are totally differing from that of their former experience These mere ” rakers ot the ground have \ct to learn that hide Pvhmiso is a science and that there exi-is a g r eat difleicncc between that science and tne routine of operations par'ially experienced in a foreign country, where the development ol the toue principles of agriculture was unknown to them. 1 hey forget, or do not know, that however good n operator any man may he, he is only an operative machine, skilfully performing wkat Science directs; a d that to he competent as a master for any busines-, lie must understand the principhs on which his operations are founded. Thus in farming, the causes which Sci nee assigns for necessary variations in practice, o ;OdicT with a knowledge of’lire particular nutriment inquired for the several crops, and the peiiod, manner, and state in which manures should he applied, arc essentially requisite. A thorough tanner should also be something ol a Botanist, so as to know t e . sped, or climate, proper lor and suitable food consumed by each crop ; and also to have some knowledge ot Astronomical pluenomeoa, to enable him to form reasonable con elusions on the prospect ol wet and dry seasons ; to which may be added a sound judgment ot the growth (if carcase, and ol the most profitable mode ot turning surplus crops into available meal. I know that, with respect to m my of these observations, 1 shall be answered that such improved methods are 100 expensive and only succeed in an old country.” Hut this kml of answer, i consider as “ Ignorance refusing to In- fed.” Experience shows ns, in farming as well as shopkeeping, that whatever mistakes want of local experience occasionally lead to, with every arrival of new Immigrants, i n) roved talent comes, which soon produces valuable results from means considered n-ele-s hy pre-occupants. My observations, however, are dirtied more . specially to the rising generation, and to such persons, as acquiring land in a new country, are fir the first time pursuing avocations differing from their previous business edu-

cation. , . 1 am fully persuaded that the rising g<*ne. atom would soon break through the crust of ignorant; - and prejuduce arising bom the inabilif. of their tempo,ary

teachers ; if but let a little encouragement he given, by such aids, as would lead to intellect.!d improvement, or would instil a praiseworthy love ot I heir business, and when they rightly unde stood what a no de held 0 in t- llcctunl knowledge is open to them in I.n pn l - sUI of the apparently simplest operations which Divine Providence has rendered essential to the attainment of our daily fire ul. Yours, &c., OuSERVATOI. Auckland, December 20th, IB >(3.