COUNTRY CHIT-CHAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4297, 21 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

COUNTRY CHIT-CHAT.

[WJUTTCK FOR IHI "WIEKIT HERALD. T A writer in your weekly contemporary, signing himself "Colonies," refers to the introduction of the subject matter of the address given at the Midland Farmere' Club, bv Mr. Mechi, farmer, of Essex, on " Howto make Farming Pay." " Colonies" says, in the following words extracted from his letter: " A short time since there appeared in one of the Auckland papers an article calling the attention of our farmers to Mr. Mechi's lccture on the above subject to the Midland Farmers' Club. The writer of this article seems to tliink that Mr. Mechi's system is the right one for the agriculturists to follow in Is'ew Zealand. Tne farmers in F>"Und criticise Mr. Mechi. They say, ahlF prove it from Mr. Mechi's own statement, that although he has the advantage of

the best market, and at his command una niitod capital, yet he only makes five pji cent, profit,—that ia, he spends one pouctl to got one pound and one shilling, lit certainly produces large crops, but the cost of production is too great. This system will not do for the New Zealand agriculturists, who had better invet-t their money at sn;ven or eight per cent. He need not bo bothered with the trouble of farming. So much for Mr. Mechi!" The letter in itselt is worth little or no notice. To anyone thoroughly conversant in the matter of what was written it will be evident " Colonies" possesses no practical knowledge of what ho writes about, neither could he have read to anderstand the words and bearing of the article he attempts to criticise. It is only that such letters will be read and pondered over by country settlers, who seize every scrap of information seeming at all likely to assist them in the cultivation and management of their farms —for them only it becomes necessary to refute the contradictions

•of such writers as " Colonies," who give nc facta, no data, but foolishly rely upon something they have heard, and then send forth tc the world the most erroneous string of halftruths. The strictures of "Colonies" upon the words of Lord Derby, for instance, shewing inch gross ignorance, it beoomes vexatious to put right what they, for want of correct information, have put in circulation. To the point : Mr. Mechi, the model and experimental farmer of Essex, has been farming the same farm for over thirty years. When he commenced, fanners smiled with on incredible smile, and prognosticated failure anil debt. Twenty-five years ago farmers said he was mad—this is what " Colonies" has heard from some one, we may suppose. He then invited farmers to visit him and inspect his crops and learn his mode of operations. Visits were paid to tie fanner, inspections of a minute character were made. We became amazed, but not oanvinced, —myself amongst the number. But twenty years ago it began to dawn on the minds of English fanners that there was something in it, — more attention was given to Mr. Mechi's operations and system, bet financially the business was questioned. Soon Mr. Mechi was not only found to an enthusiast, a farmer, but a shrewd business man. He adopted book-keeping in detail, shewing -costs, receipts, and expenditure, and at length, on public grounds And to make the proof undeniable and complete, he instituted and practised the system of farm bookkeeping invented and published by that eminent farmer, Mr. Alexander J. Emmett Binlield, of Berkshire, and auditors ; Thich system should be known .as a most correct and complete one. And if "Colonies" knows anything about England's farming matters he must endorse. This system has j been practised by Mr. Mechi up to the pre- j sent time, and with the valuing out and tn i

of the tenant every year. Subjoined will be found a verified statement of profits foi nine successive years, premising that .in 1872 .most of his wheat crop was destroyed by hail-storms, and which statement no one impugns. It must be recollected that Mr. .Mecm farms 170 acres, 45 acses of which is rented on a long lease, at one pound per acre. lie purchases his cattle stock-fanners, buying either reared calves or yearlings ; never sells them mntil they are quite ripe for the butchers, and "which he sells direct to the butchers coming "to his farm for them. He is Tery careful to know the correct weight of his beef cattle ■by weighing-machine and slaughtering ; he fattens his cattle continuously from beginning with them, uses the utmost economy as regards stock-feed and seeds, and takes great care of every particle of manure, and considers the sources of his profits are obtained from the careful and intelligent ■management brought to bear upon all his iann concerns. The following -statement shews the net balance available for rent, interest, and profit, after payment of every •exjjense whatsover: — Jo the ye*r ISCO the net b&l&nce wis X&7S 11 6 1507 „ „ 77Z 5 10 ISG9 „ „ 570 13 C 1609 „ 4'2j 19 1 >. lfiTO „ „ .72S 12 .3 IS7I „ „ 6#B 17 8 „ 1572 ~ (liails toims) 369 4 5 1573 „ „ :75l 12 7 ~ 1b74 „ „ 790 A 11 This will shew, on examination of the detailed inures, that the interest and profits on tenants' capital, after paying rent, has been 16 per cent per annum,— on a tenant capital ef £15 per acre, it will b& remembered. This proves how uninformed " Colonies" mast be on the subject he writes upon, and presumes ta hostilely criticise.' He goes further. He very stupidly assumes that 1 seem to think this system of farming should practised here. Why, is it possible he could misunderstand the sentiment expressed in my words, that it would be a boon if some wealthy Auckland gentleman would become an enthusiast in firming, and experimentalise upon a model farm, to find out good and suitable ior Near.Zealand farmiijg ? When " Colonist" quote* n«ain about decrease and increase of KnglaikLs pasturage, gcain, cattle, &c., let him simply apply himself to the returns and statistics,of the country, easily obtainable, md published in convenient forms annually; and befoceihe attempts to. in form the minds of the people in New Zealand, it is requisite that he himself should be properly posted up in facts xnd figures, otherwise he will probably mis-gaide those whotn he appears to feel desirooa.of informing. (CjKTCCfSATDS.