AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

Last week we spoke of tho advantages of agricultural education, and gave some points upon which such education could be carried out. The question is being most seriously considered in England at the present time. Agriculture has got into such a losing groove that.it is felt that some decided steps mast be taken to elevate it into a paying concern. Mr Chaplin the Minister of Agriculture has appealed to the University of Cambridge to stimulate the public interest in Agriculture ; and the University shows a disposition to sympathetically respond to the appeal. A correspondent of an English contemporary of a late date suggests an idea which we advocated in these columns some months ago, and that is, that exhibitors at agricultural shows should be contented to accept medals and certificates as prizes instead of hard cash. Thus the cash saved could bo devoted to the encouragement of agriculture. The real improvement in agriculture is only gained by long and exhaustive experiments. - No amount of theoritical teaching will ever have the some influence for good as practical experience. The latest suggestion in England is that the various agricultural societies should purchase or rent a suitable piece of land for tho purpose of experiments to be conducted by local committees of farmers, and reported upon under adequate scientific guidance. The money for these experiments to be saved by the agricultural societies out of tbe value set aside for prizes at the annual

shows. As a contemporary remarks, a comparatively trifling Bum of money spent in medals and bits of blue and , red ribbons and cardboard Bhould amply answer tho purpose of c m for ring distinction on winners of prizes. Tho original purpose of tho prize money system was, no doubt, to encourage the establishment and maintenance of wellbred animals. That result has long ago been attained. Nothing is needed now but advertisement. When the breeder becomes known, the prices of the offspring amply repay his trouble and expense. The time has arrived when breeders can rely more upon the mere advertisement of having been awarded first or second certificates at a show, than they con on the paltry £5 or £lO money prize. The mere fact of taking such a position is worth more to them than ten times the money. Agricultural implement makers do not now require the stimulus of money prizes to cause them to send their finest goods for exhibition. They are perfectly satisfied with the more widely spread advertisement of the general excellence of their wares. It is no doubt possible to establish experiment farms in many districts in this North Island. The various agricultural societies should discuss the question. The Government might assist in reserving small blocks of land, say 100 acres or even less if the soil was good and the position suitable. The agricultural societies might get up ‘ working bees ’ on tho American and Canadian systems to cloar the land aod bring it under cultivation. On this land experi ment3 could be made of sny new crop likely to be of service to the district. Now manures may be tried, new plants introduced, and useful experiments on many subjects made. We call tho attention of all agricultural societies to the subject and should be glad of opinions on the matter, to which we shall refer on some other occasion. Cultor.