OTAGO AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 60, 10 July 1852, Page 2

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

On Friday evening, 2nd inst., the members of this Association held a Conversazione in the large room of the Royal Hotel. Notwithstanding the impassable state of the roads, there were between 40 and 50 individuals present. The Chair was occupied by Capt. Cargill, the President, and the Vice-Chair by Dr. RicnARDSON, the Vice-President of the Society. After tea. the National Anthem was sung by Mr. Adam, the whole company very heartily joining.

The Chairman made a few appropriate remarks as to the general objects of the Society, and.calledupon Mr. Arthur Burns, as Convener of the Agricultural Committee, to address the meeting. A very interesting and useful conversation followed, in which Mr. Todd, Mr. Howden, Mr. Calder, and Mr. Familton, all practical men, took a part. From what fell from these parties, it appeared very evident that farming will do well in this settlement, if properly managed ; and that, even with the present high price of labour, this branch of industry will yield an abundant return, not only to the man who owns ten acres and upwards, and who works with, his own hands, but to the gentleman farmer, or capitalist, who knows his businers, and duly calculates the cost before investing his money. Some very valuable statements were made as to the returns which had been obtained of newly turned up open land, and it was mentioned by the Secretary (Mr. Proudfoot) that the Society was engaged in procuring a full statistical account of the progress of the colony. He stated that a map had been prepared which would show at a glance the number of sections chosen, and where, and also the name of occupant, and that this would be accompanied by a table showing how much land is under cultivation in each, section, the kind of crop, the outlay, and returns ; and, in short, a full statement of the actual results arrived at by the respective parties. Mr. Proudfoot observed, that so much had been said in disparagement of a statement published some time ago by the Association, that it was most earnestly desired by the Council that every man in the settlement should send in their returns, so that the actual experience of every individual may be recorded, and sent home for the information of intending colonists.

Mr. John Hyde Haubis, as Convener of the Committee for Live Stock, next addressed the meeting. He called on Mr. McGrigor, and Mr. Walter Millar, of the Taieri, and Mr. Jeffrey, Saddle Hill, Mr. Oliver, Half- Way Bush, all of whom gave the results of their experience in sheep and cattle. The remarks of Mr. Jeffrey, especially, were very satisfactory, and highly encouraging to all who' propose to invest in sheep. He stated that the average increase of lambs, under experienced shepherds, might be safely set down at 95 per cent, at least. He showed very forcibly the importance to the colony of due care being taken by the stockowner to improve and keep up the breed. Dr. Richardson, as Convener of the' Horticultural Committee, next addressed the meeting, pointing out' how closely allied horticulture was to agriculture,. and the great importance to the colony, in an economical point of view, of more care, and attention 'being devoted to the production' of the former,, especially as regarded the growth of tobacco, of hops, and of the vine, all of which, from experiments :which. had been made, might be easily reared in the settlement. He. mentioned that the soil and "aspect of some parts of the settlement are "quite as well adapted to the, cultivation .of the vine as they "are in Europe," arid that he had, produced' in his' garden a specimen of the yery finest tobacco, of commerce; there" was, therefore,' no"' necessity

for our sending away money out of the settlement for either of these articles.

Mr. Gebbie and Mr. Andeeson also addressed the meeting in the same strain. It was remarked, as an indication of the supeiiority of our climate, that the frost, which anight or two previous had been 9£ degrees below freezing, does not affect plants, which at home wouldbe destroyed! if exposed to the same temperature.

Mr. BEAiTHWAiTE,,as Convener of the Commitee for Mineralogy "and Agricultural Chemistry, then addressed the meeting., He had not much to say on the subject of mineralogy and agricultural chemistry; his time having been since his arrival chiefly directed to settling himself, as it was called ; he, however, would, with the Chairman's permission, refer to the subject of agriculture, although it had already been discussed. He complained of mischievous reports circulated at home ; he had been told that agriculture would not pay. He went on to show the fallacy of such a notion ; the country was adapted by nature to that pursuit, and even at the present price of labour would yield a handsome return ; and he begged of his fel-low-settlers, and especially those who had lately arrived, not to be too hasty in forming conclusions. It unfortunately happened that most people chose a rainy day to write home, because they could not do anything else j and while labouring under the morbid affection incidental to bad weather, gave an unfavourable report. He thought they should give matters a fair trial before forming an opinion. It would be better only to state facts ; and reports properly authenticated and put forward by the Society would be of immense value to- intending emigrants Mr. Braithwaite then referred to the advantages of the application of lime as a manure., and remarked, that to farm without manure would be as absurd as to keep a banker's account and be continually drawing out, but not putting anything in. He then explained that he had had his attention directed to the subject of manure at home, and in fact had been engaged at home in manufacturing a fertilizing substance from coal shale ; he exhibited some specimens, and gave the Society directions how to prepare similar manure. We refrain from entering into detail upon this important subject, as. we hope to receive a report from the gentleman himself.

Mr. Duff and Mr. John Caugill addressed the meeting on the subject of horses, the breed of which in the settlement appeared to be very inferior. We hope that the observations which were-mada on the subject will induce some one to import a good breed of draught-horses. Such a speculation will be highly remunerative to the party, as well as, beneficial to the public. The whole proceedings of the evening must have been very gratifying to all present., and especially to those who have lately arrived among us, several of whom expressed their entire satisfaction with' the settlement, which, notwithstanding the efforts made at the other settlements to deter them from coming forward had far exceeded their most sanguine-expecta-tions.

The evening was enlivened by several songs, and the meeting separated after having sung " Auld Lang Syne" in true Scotch style.