"AGRICOLA'S" SECTION

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 44 (Supplement)

"AGRICOLA'S" SECTION

" Agricola " writes: — I think the editor can assume without any great chance of flattering anyone that the farmers' section of these competitions has proved an undoubted success. No one more than myself knows that the list of questions given might have been materially improved upon in many ways : with studied consideration beforehand the course might have been arranged so as to review most of the principal operations of the farm. It must be acknowledged that this has only been a first attempt, and another winter, if the management fall in with the expressed wish of several competitors, care will probably be taken to see that this is done. Still, a reasonable amount of profitable ground has been covered, and, I think, with beneficial results to all concerned.

What struck me most in connection with these competitions was the almost universal expression of gratitude to the Otago Witness for the amount of practical assistance the writers had derived from the various agricultural publications in that paper. This cropped up in all sorts of ways. Another noticeable feature was the fact that long after some of the competitors had no possible chance of securing a prize they continued to send in voluminous answers to the questions. They evidently enjoyed the work.

I thoroughly appreciate the efforts made by some competitors, who have not had the advantages enjoyed by others, not so much to beat their opponents, for that seemed to be a matter of indifference, but to detail the experience of their lives and impart information which might be made available for all. Unfortunately those who are best qualified — from their superior knowledge and experience — to teach others, often find a difficulty in expressing themselves in clear language, and would sooner do a day's work any time than write a line No great stretch of imagination is neces-

sary to see them, with a half-inch stump of leadpencil and a well-worn pocket-book, painfully but assiduously jotting down spasmodic entries which, later on, would be embodied in their papers. I know what it has cost them, and have endeavoured to appraise their work at its true value. No one can have much sympathy with that kind of conservatism which prompts a man to stick to certain methods for no other reason than that they have served his grandfather's purpose very well. We a know that the onward march of education and the advance in science, so far as it affects agriculture, has brought about many changes in the methods employed in cultivation, in manuring, and in realisation, and it was gratifying to find that a great many of the competitors are keeping well abreast of the times and eagerly adopting improvements suggested by our agricultural colleges and experts. It is also gratifying to learn that the spirit in which I have attempted to carry out this competition ha* been freely appreciated by many of the competitors. And if the competitors themselves have not failed to derive considerable pleasure and profit from their exertions I shall feel more than repaid for my work. I take pleasure in wishing them and all of "Agricola's" readers a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, with full crops, bumper prices, and no bad debts.

The following are the aggregate points obtained by the leading competitors in this section : — Jas. Miller, Clifden. 55 points 1 " Fourth Standard " (Daniel Dickie, Balfour), 48 points 2 " Son of the Soil " (W. A. Patereon,

Goodwood), 46 points Joseph Gwyn, Houipapa, 43 points ..

Jno. Mac Arthur. John Crossan Smith, 42 points each.

J. Dunlop, " Riversdalian," Tree,' 1 39 points each.

Jas. Cushnie. " Tit-Bits," J. S. Mathe son, J. B. T., "Novice," close up.