THE FARMING OF THE FUTURE

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 5

THE FARMING OF THE FUTURE

(Melbourne Leader.)

The old practice, aud the generally a> cepted theory, has been that a shallow bed is all that is required for the growth of wheat ; that a succulent growth is not requisit9, but rather a yield of grain. The land has therefore been ploughed to depths varying from three to nine inches, and the wheat has been taken away year after year, the straw burned, whereby all the organic parts have been converted _ into giß and dissipated, whilst the mineral parts and the roots have been left in and on the ground, possibly iv excess of the requirements of the succeeding plants, and Borne of them undoubtedly injurious to their well-being. The idea is now generally gaining ground in America and California, where farmers have undergone exactly similar experiences with ours, that tho deeper the ground is stirred the better ; and, so too, in England,the steam plough is brought into the field, and tears the soil up to a great depth. The theory is held, and it seems a reasonablo one, that the top toil is only richer because it has been subjected to the " digestion" — if such a term may bo used — of plants, which, with the|decay of the plants, has been left in a fit state to serve as food for their successors, aud that by a similar process the lower soils can also be brought to contribute their quota. Therefore deep ploughing and the planting of deep-rooting crops, which by feeding off with stock or by being ploughed in whilst green shall bring up tho necessary food to the surface, ia recommended as a means of fertilising land which has been overworked. It is obvious that farmers pursue quite a different course in cultivation to that adopted by horticulturist and market gardeners. The first prefer shallow culture, give little manure, sow closely, and roll the soil to keep in' the moisture. The latter dig deeply^ manure heavily, give plenty of room to their plants, and keep the surface open to retain the moisture and let in the air. It is true the gardener wants luxuriance of growth, and, ac a rule, does not desire his plants should go to seed, but still there is much in his practice that should lead the farmer to think whether there is not something which he could copy. If the ground is stirred to a good depth there is no doubt that it will let in the rain and retain it longer than it would if it was ia a solid block, and it is a moot point whether it is not possible for the soil in its loose state to extract moisture from the air, which enters and sets up a chemical- action, and thus forms the food necessary for. plants. At the same time, it is an undoubted fact that land which has been solidified or ' ' cakod " by the action of rain or rolling, followed by heat, will not retain moisture, whilst that of which the surface is kept loose and open will keep damp through the hottest and driest weather. Then, as regards room for plants, it has been proved by ptactice that thin sowing is more advantageous than thick, and lately it ha 3 been suggested that wheat sown in drills a foot to 18 inches apart would yield a heavier crop than that sown in the ordinary way, whilst at the same time doing away with the liability to red rust which is occasioned by too close crowding [of the wheat plants. If these theories are correct, then the farming of the future, if there be any fanning at all, will be far different from that of the present. The steam plough and deep culture will take the place of the three- furrow skimmer and scarifier. The straw will be gathered and turned into manure. Deeprooted plants will be grown, and sheep, pigs, cattle, and horses will be more common, and more valued, for the work they do in improving the fertility of the farm. The thousand-acre farm, which now is considered not more than sufficient for the Bupport of one family, will then be cut up into smaller holdings, each 80 acre block producing enough for two or more families. The one everlasting crop of wheat will give place to a more reasonable course of rotation and produce, and instead of being brought in from loDg distances up the country, will be grown close to town, whose citizens will be plentifully supplied with poultry, eggs, butter, and bacon by farmers who have found out that it does not do to try to live by producing bread alone. Those farmers who live nearer town will bring in their produce in the shape oE pigs, calves, sheep, and occasionally a fat beast, and thus add to their incomes. Manure, which now is almost universally condemned as "useless," will then be sought for and intelligently applied ; and the waggon, instead of returning empty to the farm, as it often does now, will be filled with street sweepings or slaughterhouse refuse purchased at a fair price, instead of being refused as a gift ; and farming in the future will be understood to bo an intelligent cultivation of the soil, whereby its fertility will be retained, instead of a destructive aud senseless spoliation of the finest wheat-land in the world.