WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8474, 27 January 1891, Page 6

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

[from our own correspondent.]

Hamilton, Monday, The meeting of the committee of the Hamilton branch of the Waikato Farmers' Club was held as called for two p.m. on Saturday, but the usual monthly meeting was held an hour later. Present: The Chairman (Mr. A. Primrose), and Messrs. Bar ugh, \V. A. Graham, Gwynn, Runciman, Von Stunner, Dyer, Furze, Sandes, and the secretary (Mr. C. J, W. Barton). The secretary stated that the Club consisted of 52 members, of whom 32 had paid the annual subscription of ss, and that independently of the fees to come ia there was a credit balance of £3 15s. Ee read apologies from Mr. Coates and Mr. E. C. Shepherd for not being present, both stating their sympathies with the institution. The Chairman said that the year expired on the 22nd of March next, and it was very desirable that the club should not fall through. It might be made very useful, not only for farmers but for others. At any rate they should be able to keep up a quarterly meeting. Mr. Bar ugh thought that the question of manures should alone keep the club in existence. _ Even if the meetings were held quarterly instead of monthly the executive would, be there as a vigilance committee to watch over the farmers' interests and could summon a meeting of the club at an hours notice. Bad manures caused an immense loss to farmers, who individually could not analyse the manures, but as a club could have it done cheaply and without trouble. At home the adulteration of manures had caused immense loss to the farmers until the Royal Agricultural Society took the matter in hand, and fearlessly weeded out the dishonest traders. It was the analysis obtained from the Christchurch College which exposed the low value of manures sold in \Y aikato a few years ago. . Mr. Dyer thought that it was a want of combination amongst farmers that caused them to be left out in the cold. All other trades and professions—even the workmen-com-bined, but the farmers did not. lie should be happy to read a paper he had prepared on the subject of farmers' co-operation. >"• Barton said that Mr. Coates had promised to read a paper on " Seeds," and if Mr. Jiarngn would give a paper on "Manures, ttiere would be attractive matter to keep the meetings going. Mr. Dyer continued that he thought the functions of the club should extend even to money assistance to farmers on a pinch, in getting in their crops, etc. » should also be a vigilance committee in matters political, and make its voice heard in tn« Legislature. The executive, he though. should prepare a programme of each meeting's business, so that members might oe attracted to attend. Mr. Graham said nedid not believe in combination but be »- ld believe in co-operation. Want of co-opera-tion and of scientific knowledge was the roue of the. agricultural class. Co-operation ro a rendered the agricultural classes in .' ri V 1 and Germany a power. Here legislation m been all for the cities and finance, but it to country interests languished, even thout, trade in the city was good and the ban - were bursting with money, the cow. would not be prosperous. After so little further discussion the business cou eluded, with the arrangement that _» Coates' paper be read at the next meel ',°j There was some little discussion on the n of lime and its cost, some of those wit' fashioned notions thinking that at leasH" „. six tons per acre should be applied L sidered that at present rates, £1 he \ KL f -■' it could not be used. Mr. Graham, on" Phoenix Lime Works, Waipa, was pre** and stated that if the orders were w .,• enough, the lime could be produced n cheaper, as they could keep two, or three kilns going at little more expense i ( it costs for one, and if taken away in D , o - D g great saving would be effected, by " away with bags, bagging, and carriage the kiln to the river, a saving almost to , extent of 50 per cent. Experiments « shown that from li to 2 tons per acre «» _ ample dressing, and attended with nio traordinary results in New Zealand. - 0 Graham is quite right—large « ressl "?[ at e lime are not used by scientific farmers years at home, as tending to improver! soil. Lime is not a manure, but simpiy , M upon the soil bringing into solution • stored up in the soil, and till then inso If lime is used in large quantities h«« a larger portion of these various salts the plants can take up at once as tow, the balance is volatilised or washed »"' - ut the rainfall, to the useless »"ipoverw» of the soil. The rule amongst good '; 4 " ,y at home is now, not large doses ot lime \fc few years, but smaller doses annually » annually. ____——