To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Waiwetu, June 2d, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 40, 12 July 1845, Page 2

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Waiwetu, June 2d, 1845.

Sir, — Having seen a letter in your paper on agriculture in New Zealand, it seems to me, if people can place any confidence in Mr. Ludlatn's -statements, cent per

cent, for all money expended in agriculture is * very materinl thing, which ought not to be overlooked : But practice and experience makes perfect. One years practice, I think, is not quite sufficient to calculate seven years' results. It is not my intention to dishearten people from growing their own produce, but on the contrary, I feel it a duty incumbent on myself to state facts that every discerning mind may judge for themselves. I am not speaking of one year's results, but I have gone through the whole process myself, from the standing bush down to the four years' crop of potatoes, as mentioned by Mr. Ludlam in your paper ; and I have acquired my knowledge by practice of the past, and calculated accordingly. I have farmed my land in a workmanlike manner, and after paying all expenses, I have not the tenth part of such profits as Mr. Ludlam mentions. The first year of growing wheat in this colony its value was 10s. per bushel, and as labour fell, in the same ratio whe.it fe'.t ; a person with rent to pay may just keep out of debt by farming after deducting waste of time for selling the produce owing to the want of markets. Does Mr. Ludlam's experience, indeed, warrant a return of 40 bushels to the acre, and has he really got so much advantage by his method of contracting with his workmen ? In his enthusiasm Mr. Ludlam, I think, overlooks the items of deduction and loss while he displays the profits to be realized in round numbers. In answer to the sale of straw it did pay at one time, I will allow, but now there is so much on hand that it will scarcly pay the carriage to Wellington, and in future it ought not by any means to come into the profits, but rather to remain on the fartns for manure, or else the land will not be able long to average 40 bushels to the acre. The next thing to come under consideration, Where is all the produce to be sold for the prices Mr. Ludlam alludes to for instance, potatoes the general crop, is oftener under £2 per ton than above it, then the carriage is to be deducted out of this price ; he forgets the trouble of selling, and also the other trouble— getting the money,— and I beg to say that I am not the only farmer that feels this severe shock to industry, but nearly every one in the valley of the Hutt. The third river and the Waiwetu send more vegetables and produce than all the other districts besides, and every one complains of not being able to sell their produce, and sometimes have to bring it back again. Now, where is rent and other expenses to come from ? The soil in the valley of the Hutt is very superior, and will produce the crops Mr. Ludlam mentions ; but bear in mind, it must have fair play, and not half the land cropped but the whole, and worked in a a farmer like manner. It is not the right way, I should think to average a crop, to have half *n acre or an acre worked in a proper manner, and then to average it with twenty or forty acres done in that cheap manner, md not worked reund the stumps, which is a general filing with the large farmers, so that cheap work comes learest at last, for it leaves room for the thistles md other weeds to grow and seed, and you soon get more weeds than wheat. It is also an old saying and a rery true one, that once well done is better than thrice lone bad, for it saves the land from being impoverished. hnd you will get a good crop, which I believe every one s trying to do. Ido not intend to say but that a man srith a good judgment who farms his land in a proper nanner, and works himself, and sees that no one about urn is idle, and has no rent to pay, which will take all lis profit, if he attends to everything in a workmanlike Banner he may get a comfortable living, that is proviled things get no worse in the colony, but no j£lo or 15 >er acre clear profit for Johnny Box's bank to take care it If a man is engaged by the year at 12s. per week, j he value of this will be 3 bushels of wheat per week at ; he present prices, which amounts in twelve months to 56 bushels or the produce of about 4 acres. Now, what wish to inform you is, that the produce of the said 4 cresistobe cropped, reaped, stacked, thrashed, and leaned, and sent to market before it is worth 4s. per ushel : for these expenses I refer you to Mr. Ludlam's etter, with the exception of the carriage to market. 1 riH here suggest that after a man has cropped, reaped, tacked, and thrashed the produce of 4 acres, he will be he best workman I ever saw if he has any time afterrarde to work for the benefit of his employer- 1 beieve it is more than any man has ever done yet in New Zealand. I should wish to avoid all appearance of ill ature while I beg to contradict from my own experience, nd also of my neighbours around, the flattering state»ent of profits on farming as represented by Mr. Ludim, as shall be made in this colony for some time, ilthough incorrect, it is more moderate and the nearest pproximation to truth than any that has yet appeared rom the supporters of agriculture ; and I will take this pportunity of saying, that while we ought to be anxious o invite auxiliaries to this settlement, we ought no loner to do so by misstatements. Let the honest facts be nown and this settlement will still be fairly entitled to ompetewith those around. Your's respectfully, Henry Jackson.