CLIMATE AND FARMING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 12

CLIMATE AND FARMING.

" The climate of a country must necessarily exercise a decisive influence in determining 'the system of farming to be adopted," says a recent Field. There are many points in this article which, once f rasped by our New Zealand legislators aving to do with agricultural matters, may aid them in determining to get a move on in connection with Central Otago. Tho writer goes on to say: "No one appreciates ■ this more keenly than the British farmer. He has learned from bitter expedience,' even if his innate perception of things had not warned him of the fact, that to attempt a method of cropping and management unsuited to the climate of his locality is to burden himself with a weight that will certainly in the long run prove too much for him and end in his defeat. The physical conditions are unlikely ever to be overlooked in respect to the part they play in deciding the course that should be pursued, because they are more easily ascertained and reveal themselves more promptly. There are_ soils so deceptive in appearance as to mislead the most competent observers without previous knowledge of them; but the shrewd farmer is careful to supplement his own first impressions > with inquiries on the spot before committing himself to an enterprise of doubtful merit. Even when he has taken reasonable precautions, the energetic husbandman may be drawn by his love of adventure into experiments that will not be .to his advantage, and, greatly to his disappointment, will have to return to the same routine practised by his decessor; but if he puts sound business before personal predilection ho will resign himself to fate with becoming complacency. The enlightened farmer is quick to recognise the futility of trying to overrulo the controlling natural forces. His readiness to own the impotence of human effort to subjugate the- supreme influences of soil and climate, and to make his plans so that they will assist instead of hindering him is what distinguishes the man of discernment and skill from his less shrewd neighbour This conception of things will be borne out by 'the investigation of both successes and failures, and also of the many intermediate cases, which owe their moderation, perhaps mainly, to preference having been given in personal leanings over natural influences. There is a type of farmer who will command a measure of prosperity in any circumstances, but it is safe to say that if he were to formulate his plans 'on the basis of an intelligent interpretation of the governing and un altering natural conditions his record of production and gain would bo substantially improved. It is not an exaggerated conception of the influence of climate that assigns to it the premier place in regulating intelligent procedure. The weather conditions of a locality, as reckoned on the law of averages, not only determine seedtime and harvest, both in point of time and description, but they vitally affect the productive capability of the land. Ability to cultivate properly the majority of soils and particularly those of finer 'texture and greater yielding capacity, depends upon tho rainfall and other meteorological conditions. There is little hone . for the farmer who studies tho character of his land apart from 'the meteorological records of the locality, for while the chemical composition of the soil may remain immune from climatic influences his abilitv to reduce it to a suitable physical state is fundamentally _ a matter of weather. It is a common saymg that anyone could farm if the weather were favourable or could be foreseen. The other determining factors- can be computed and controlled with approximate accuracy, but over all 'there is the uncertainly of the climate to be reckoned with and to disturb the best ordered plans that human ingenuity can devise. It is emphatically a case of man proposing and the weather disposing, and to proceed on any other understanding is to invito disappointment, if not disaster. The most competent farmer in the country is powerless to sway the natural forces to any appreciable degree, even if he were to summon to his aid all that science can provide, and, frankly acknowledging his limitations, ho will apply himself to .the working out of a scheme for enl'sting the supremo elements on hia side It is this wise interpretation of natu<**-! forces that have given to th* business of stock breeding the sup rem,* position ft occupies in Britislt agriculture. SoiU are a factor of importance and must not be disregarded, but climate is the dominating power, since, m addition to tho direct influence of rain and sunshine upon vegetation, tho indirect effects are equally potent through tho land, the cultivation" of which in season and efficiently is largolv dependent upon the weather. It is we'll to" reflect carefully upon this point now in view of the ■ schemes that ore being propounded for evolving a system of husbandry that takes insufficient cognisance of the power of climate to thwart human effort*. The argument that what was done in tho way of corn-grow-ing a generation back can bo done again

is not convincing. If tho climate has not changed 'the markets have, and although the Corn Production Act gives a certain guarantee for a period of,years he is assuredly an optimist who believes that minimum prices will be continued a day after the Act expires. Tho experiences with tho Food Controller at a time when the need for stimulating production is pressing should remove any uncertainty on this point. Circumstances may arise next year or later which will demand exceptional measures; but, putting aside for tho moment extreme emergency necessities, and limiting consideration to the establishment of a system applicablo after tho war, we contend that it would bo a grievous mistake to underestimate tho value of experience bought under conditions of supply and demand, which, liko tho relationship of cliriiate and soils, are likely to be permanent when the disorganisation due to the war has subsided. They will 'take upon themselves a heavy responsibility who would counsel .tho reconstruction of British agriculture on any other basis than that the former economic conditions will be restored and that our climate decrees for animal husbandry a place of pi-e-eminent importance.