TARANAKI FARMERS' CLUB.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11022, 13 September 1897, Page 2

TAR ANAKI FARMERS' CLUB.

LECTURE BY REV. H. MASON. Thk Rev. H. Mason, of Okato, lato certificated lecturer on agriculture, to the Scienco and Art Department, South Kensington, delivered an addrass, entitled Agricultural Notes and Comments, beforo the Taranaki Farmers' Club, at 2 o'clock ea Saturday September 11th. There was a good attendance, the President, Mr L. W. Alexander, occupying the chair. The lecture was the first of a series arranged to be delivered to members. The lecturer, who was received with applause, said he had not come before them to teach them practical farming, for all farmers knew that, bu 1 he was going to refer to science as applied to agriculture. Science was no use without practice, but both combined were of great value. Agricultural science was a combination of several other sciences. For instance geology wai a science that came into it. If a person came from England to purehaso a farm here he would find geology a great help in finding the value of the soil, and its growing qualities. Botany also entered into agriculture^, and so did physiology in connection with the animals of tho farm. He then proceeded to give some plain words on farming. For instance he laid that farmers here were in the habit of ploughing to the same depth every year. He illustrated that in getting crops the subsoil should be turned up, so that the plant food therein contained could be taken advantage of. He pointed out that the subsoil in localities in England was stirred ap in ploughing season, and good results were obtained. The rains carried plant food into the subsoil, aud there it remained for the ase of the farmer who desired to take advantage of it. He dwelt on other advantages to be gained by stirring up the subsoil. He said the subsoil could be stirred up by a cultivator or subsoil plough. Referring to draining, the lecturer pointed out that icience said that so long as there was stagnant water in the soil so there would be poisonous acid in the soil, which would kill plant life. If a plant required water it did not follow that it should have its roots always in stagnant water. The lecturer then re- j ferred to the action of gases on plant life. The farmer must drain the stagnant water, nnd he would find his crops iacrease greatly. On the question of dairying, the lecturer said it was the most exhaustive of all the branches of farm work. The cows wera milked, the was milk turned into butter, and the calves we-e Bold, and all these elements were takei from the farm. There was certainly the manure froii the animals, but cow manure was very poor. Th» elements taken from the farm must be returned, and the only way was to do so by artificial manure. The farmer should first get an analysis of his soil, and then he could find out what was required to cn r ich the soil of his farm. Thea arose the question how was the sample to be taken from the farm for the analyst. It was no use taking a spadeful of earth from one part of the farm, bat take several spadefuls from different parts of the farm and mix them together, and then tha farmer would obtain an average of the soil. The lecturer then briefly rofened to how the analyst would treat the soil for analysis. On tho question of ro*atioa of crops the lecturer said that crops could not be taken out of the same land season after season. Scientific experiments had been made pn this question, and it showed that all the elements for plant lifo must be present. Different crops take out different elements, and the process goes on until one of the plant food elements disappears from ths soil, and then the crops failed. Turnips for instance took five times as much potash out of the soil as wheat, and it followed that if turnips wer« grown y6ar after year in the same land all the potash would disappear. Again oats took five times as much lime out of the land as wheat, and if oat cropping was continued the lime element would disappear from the soil. The proper course was to ch'inge the crops and thus keep the elements in the soil balanced as it were. He had made a calculation and had come to the conclusion that for every gallon of milk raised the farmer should set aside for manure*. Some farmers would probably not agree with him, but they would find out in the future that his calculation was fairly correct. The lecturer then prooeeded to point out another advantage to be gained by systematic manuring and draining. On germination of seed the lecturer also addressed a few remarks, showing under what conditions the seed germinates. He also referred to the formation of soile, treating the subject at seme length. He concluded with a few remarks on tho objects of the Farmers' Club. He intended at some future date to give a lecture on one subjuct, and not as now on general matters (applause). He al«o said he was pleased to see that experts would deliver lectures before the Club, on different branches of agriculture. He would do his best to further the interests of the Club, the formation of which would tend to the direct benefit of the farmers. For instance; farmer* would meet hare *by appointment to transact business, instead of looking fpr each other round the hotels, which meant more drinking than was necessary He was a teetotaller, but not a prohibitionist, and he hoped ia the future that the Club would h<we a refreshment bar, at which all tastes could be suited, and where those who ware teetotallers could obtain a oup of tea or coffee if they desired the beverage. He hoped that his remarks would not be construed that he wanted a drink now. (Laughter and applause). He wished the Clnb every success in its future career. The lecturer resumed his seat amidst applause. The President moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Rev H. Mason for his able address, and pointed out that with such help the Club must succeed. The motion was carried with acclamamation. Mr H. Okey said he had listened with great ploasure to the address, and added he had had experience in cropping land with turnips tqo many seasons in succession, Mr Stanley aajfed the lecturer his views ou the application of salt manure to tho ground Tha lecturer said the application was one of quantity. He know a Scotch gardener who applied too much salt, and the next season he had to buy his vegetables. (Laughter). Captain Gibson remarked, that ho had had experience ot salt. He put salt on tho land to kill furze, and it killed off all the stumps, but the seeds came up twice as quick and as thick as before. (Laughter. 1 The President j?ave out the lectures that had been arranged for, and the proceodings terminated.