THE PRESENT CRISIS IN AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 3

THE PRESENT CRISIS IN AGRICULTURE.

I [By J.B. L*w£s, Esq., F.R.S., LL.D.J

Farmers are said to gromble even in the best of times ; but however much they may grumble, they do not often give np farming for other occupations. When, therefore, Wβ hear of farms to be let in every direction, and an absence of applicants for them, we may be tolerably certain that farming has, for tome time past, been an nnremunerative business. If a certain number of farmers have already succumbed, a far larger number must be anxiously considering how much longer they can carry on, and even amongst those who are sufficiently wealthy to weather the storm, there muse be, in a great number of instances, a loss of capital. This loss of the tenants' capital, which constitutes the cultivating capital of the soil, is a serious matter, only to be met by the introduction of freah capital by those who have not hitherto been engaged in farming, or by the landowners cultivating their own estates. This latter alternative may be dismissed at once as being altogether impracticable, except as a temporary measure. In order to attract fresh capital into farming eperatiODß, or to retain that which is already invested in it without further diminution, some alteration in the relations of the landowner and tenant-farmer appears to be required. Putting aside any question as to a reduction of rent, which it is impossible to deal with in general terms, the tenant wonld be benefited by— 1. A greater oertainty in his tenure. 2. Freedom to grow what crops he pleased. 3. Compensation for unexhausted improvements. It is said that the greater portion of the farms thrown np consist of heavy soils of inferior quality. That such is the case is very probable. Heavy land is more adapted to grow corn than to carry stock—unless where land is laid down in permanent pasture, and corn has been low for some time, and is likely to continue so. Last year I read a paper before the Society of Arts on "Freedom in the growth and sale of the crope of the farm." In it I endeavoured to shew that landowners might grant greater freedom to their tenants without any injury to their own interests. It has long been evident to me that a great deal of the heavy land in this country has been farmed under a system which I should consider ill-adapted to bring out its capabilities. So long as high prices prevailed, and the tenant could pay bis rent, it would have been useless to suggest any changes, nor do I now urge them as in any way beneficial to the landowner, provided he can obtain the eame rent on the old terms; if, however, the present system has broken down, and farmers are allowed to carry on their operations more in accordance with the teaching of science, I would venture to direct their attention to several changes in their mode of cultivation. The Kothamstead experiments have been carried ont upon a heavy soil of no great natural fertility, and the climate is aimilar to that on the east and south of England. These experiments tell us that the turnip crop is ill-adapted to such a soil and climate, and it takes a great deal ol manure to produce a Tery moderate crop, and when you have got the crop you would, be better without it. Sheep only injure the land when they tread it in wet weather, and they fatten but slowly when up to their middles in mud. A bleeding flock, the mainstay upon so many farms, is still more objectionable, increasing as it does the stock npon the farm just at the time when there should be none. Mangold ii the proper root crop to grow; if sown early, and the plants be set out tolerably close to each other, the quality of the root is improved, and they are fit to consume almost as soon as taken up. Both wheat and barley succeed well after mangolds, and, however highly the land haa been manured, it ie very rarely that the succeeding com crop is too big. An objection that I have not unfrequently heard, that mangolds draw the land, is surely a merit rather than a defect, meaning as it does that the mangold possesses a high capacity for converting manure into food. If wheat follows mangolds, barley should follow wheat. No crop grown at Kothamatead has suown itself so amenable to artificial treatment as barley ; and not only does the quantity keep up where it is continuously grown, and manured with the proper manures, but the quality or weight per buehel is increased, so that the average weight of the last thirteen years is higher than that of the first thirteen years. Barley, therefore, onght to be the crop to which the heavy land farmer should pay special attention. Laying up the land dry by ploughing as soon as possible after the crop ie removed in the previous autumn, is the first step towards good tilth in the spring. How many corn crops the cultivator may take in succession must depend upon the cleanness of his land and his own faith in the operation; but in all cases the last crop should be followed by mangold. Cleanness of land ja indispensable. Our native weeds thrive well enough on homeproduced food; but when such a luxury as nitrate of soda is placed within their reach, they will fight with the corn crops for a portion of the repast, and, if permitted, will take the lion's share. Assnming that the course began with clover, and that the farm was divided into six equal parte, there might be one-sixth clover, one-sixth wheat, followed by two crops of barley, mangolds, and then barley with seeds commencing again. Thne, four-sixths would be corn and two-sixths green crops. The wheat straw might probably be sold, and the barley s';raw and clover consumed on the farm. All the dung made should go upon the mangold ground. The mangolds should be consumed in the yards, or perhaps partly by sheep upon the seeds, but no animals should be upon the land during winter or spring. A farm conducted on a system somewhat similar to this, which may be called a system of corn-growing by tillage and artificial manures, instead of stock-feeding by artificial foods—one being adapted to heavy and the other to light soils—would, I am disposed to think, prove remunerative, if carried out with skill and intelligence. In the Agricultural Gazette of November 11, will be found a very sensible letter from a Cambridgeshire farmer, who, after showing how great a loss he is likely to make on hia farm owing to the low price of wheat, says that " the sole hope of a remunerative crop rests with barley after wheat," and that it is owing to having a good landlord and an, enlightened agent that he ia allowed to take this liberty with his land. I have taken the liberty of growing twenty-seven crops of barley in succession on my land, and I am not aware that it is any the worse for it. Prom a description of his crops it woald appear that the Cambridgeshire farmer cultivates fen land; if so, it would not be classed amongst the soils for which I am prescribing; but even on hie soil a permitted, althongh a forbidden crop, is the sole element of comfort to him in the midst of his burthen of woes. If, as Mr. Caird says, the land of this country is to become ■ a playground, and amateur farmers with abundance of capital, and indifferent to loss or gain, are to fill up the vacancies of retiring farmers, it can hardly be expeoted that landowner!! or their agents will make any alteration in their agreements. If, however, farming ia to be carried on by the present race of tenant farmers as a business returning a fair intereefi for their capital, with the present prospects before them, they should not, I think, be hampered by obsolete customs and restric tions, but should be allowed to grow and sell what they please, due regard being at the same time paid to the more durable interests of the owner of the soil.