CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3420, 14 September 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

NEW ZEALAND FARMING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TJMABU HERALD. Sib, — Any thorough practical farmer must hare read with the warmest interests the sensible remarks made by Mr Q-. G. Stead at the late annual meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce. While referring to the depressing effects caused by the low prices obtained for the cereals exported during the past three years, he does not assume a tone of despair but coolly enters on an explanation of causes (some doubtless unavoidable), but many which have been greatly aggravated by the carelesness, ignorance, and avarice of a large majority of the Canterbury farmers since it became an agricultural district. In the above remarks I refer to the reciless suceessional growth of white straw crops, without any proper rotation or fallowing for the restoration of the soil, which had consequently become destitute of properties required by such crops ; the unavoidable annual increase of all kinds of obnoxious weeds, the seeds of which made a large discount on the value of samples, already greatly deteriorated from those grown on the same land m provioua years ; the gradual decrease m the weight of the clean crop and increase m the rubbish, which cost as much to harvest, stack, and thresh as the cleanest crop. To this got added one of the most condemnatory evils which could exist m any corn growing country, especially m one with a market 15,000 miles diotant, viz., the habit of threshing corn from the stooks. This led to men without means launching into extensive speculations of cropping, sometimes m an exceptionally favorable season clearing considerable amounts, but seldom without causing ultimate loss to the purchasers of same, and giving our wheat a very inferior place m the world's market, to that which it should have attained. Every practical farmer knows that all corn, though harvested and stacked m the most favorable season, must pass through its natural fermentation or ■weat, when the grain (although apparently fit for the millstones when stacked) becomes quite tough, and not less than six weeks m stock will restore it to a marketable and permanent hardness. Hero wheat or other crops have been seen threshed from the fltook, where it had stood the woather, often for several weokn, with many stooks lying flat on the ground, and consequently more or less germinated ; others carted into stacks, perhaps to be threshed m one, two, or three weeks, perhaps months ; but few with any thatch to protect them from the weather. No doubt those that stood the winter's weathor, although to a certain extent damaged, yielded the best exportable grain. If corn is threshed from the stook, it must pass through its fermentation m the socks, stowed m large bulk m warehouses, or m tho holds of ships on voyage, often turning out a [musty unsaleable sample, when the shipper i thought ho was sending something prune. Unfortunately this ovil is often extended to I parcels of the best, which ore stowed amongst the unfermonted. It is a great wondor to mo that corn merchants have not long ago striven to prevent this evil by getting an Act passed, whioh would render any person liable on his offering a sample which he could not prove had beon stacked the required tiroo. Such law exists m England and is equally necessary m Now Zealand. In making these introductory remarks on tho past I wish to show that much of our New Zealand corn ha» reached the London market m a state which has proved detrimental to tho general character of our cereals, while a great deal was preventiblo. Doubtless the same evils still exist to a cortain oxtent, but I think I am not wrong m surmising that we shall never again soo thorn so wilfully persisted m as they have been. It is now pretty genorally admitted that farmers must only trust to the growth of cereals In a proportion which will covor the colonial demands, or bo as profitably used m feeding stock. For tho latter it will bo found that a largo increase m the culture- of pulse crops will be desirable as rapid meat producers and soil renovators. Not less important will be hay and root oropi, harvested

b and tilled with every care. With the 7 latter I may point out that it will . not be remunerative to plough, till, and , sow 100 acres (with consequent rent), and j let crop and weeds take their luck, till r troddon down and partly consumed by sheep t and cattle m coming winter ; while 30 acres . properly drilled, hoed, and freed from all noxious rubbish, will produce more tons of ' food, and leave land fit to receive another . crop. The importance of the above is equally . applicable to dairy farms, whioh (thanks to i the persevering few who have started oar i dairy factories with endless difficulties and i prejudices to contend with) are now taking an . important place m supplying a well appre- [ dated and marketable commodity for export. I In liko manner the careful cultivation of European flax, which has engaged the atteni tion of a limited number for some years l seems to attract the interest of more, but not m the proportion -n-liicJi would bo expected m a country -which, aa a paint oil consumer i (saving nothing of tho other Australian i colonies), mußt figure conspicuously; and i one with a daily increasing demand for Bamo, , togethor with oil-cako for feeding purposes, . and all classes of superior threads and twines, i —collectively the manufactured staples of this one neglected crop, flax. ; Although the establishment of these ira- • portant branches of industry have received i less proportionate aid and encouragement ; from our princely estate owners and stock ; farmers, than from any other class, yet it is . evident that those who have all along seen , the future importance of them to this , country, do not intend they should die a - natural death. The Temuka Linseed, Oil, . Cake and Fibre Company are prepared to give , £3 per ton for all well-harvested crops, with or without seed, and this should bo sufficient , encouragement for all farmers to contribute a . few acres. The erection of buildings on the : Company's premises for tho fixing of complete r spinning plant recently arrived is another ', proof of their faith with tho public. To . ensure a certain amount of crop the Company is drilling over 100 acres, which we trust will be supplemented by all farmers within a , reasonable distance of tho works before it is too late for the season. I believe some flax is • already up and several crops drilled. Before oil mills can be established amongst ub ' sufficient seed must bo guaranteed to justify ; the outlay for necessary works and plant, so it entirely rests m the hands of our farmers, i who should be the interested stock-feeders, when this important industry shall bo added i to our existing fibre producing works and speedily expected spinning mills. [ It is very encouraging to note the prompt i and business-like progress made by the S.O. Refrigerating Works. It will not require i more than ordinary foresight with our farmers i to perceive that to insure the greater buc- , cess of this important undertaking, a vast i chango will bo required m tho future treat- , ment of land. To render a farm fully re- , munerative, it must be made capable of carrying a full stock, well fed tho whole year round. To accomplish this, a proper proportion must bo annually cropped with roots, ; with the indispensable cleaning, hoeing, and , manuring, if necessary, to insure Buccesa. , This will show m the decrease of rubbish m , succeeding corn or pulse crops, and m the superiority of pastures, which will follow m the stubbles, where clovers . and grasses have been sown. Great care , should always bo taken that young clovers do not get too severely grazed by sheep . before, or m the early winter, by which error \ large areas of fine pasture aro destroyed an- \ uuully. Young cattlo are preferablo for , grazing stubbles where clovers have been , sown ; and these should be removed as frosts , become prevalent, and bo kept clear until ■ they get a forward start m spring. A fair . proportion should always be cleared of stock m time to insure a good crop 'of hay, which . mil for the future be one of the most im- , portant crops to demand a farmer's attention i and careful manipulation. Weather por- > mitting, a midsummer hay harvest is far f preferable, as it is favored by length of day, . and gives ample time for the rapid growth of i aftermath (after crop) for autumn and , winter grazing. Hay, with roots, corn and | pulse crops, oil cake, &c, will be the media , through which our New Zealand Refrigerat- . ing Companies must ultimately be supplied I with a steady stream of the finest beef and I mutton throughout the winter and early , Bpring. At present a large proportion of stock has to come to the shambles after , autumn grazing only half fed, and great sacrifices made for want of the necessaries to complete their feeding. Here the farmer loses all his profit, as the last month is everything with the feeder. When a proper system of feeding is adopted, no less vigilance is necessary m the selection and breeding of the . stock which will consumo the produce of the [ farm. There is great room for improvement \ m our cattle genorally, if wo are to compete with the best, iv supplying London with , her beof. It is of the greatest import- , anco that calves should be well fed from ( birth, or stunted, unthrifty stock will be the , result. Not less important is tho careful selection of bulls and judicious crossing of stock. All have their special fancies m breeds, ' and I must acknowledge to that weakness ; • but although tho pure Hereford was my | hobby, I have contracted a great partiality ! for first cross of same with well-selected ( roomy Shorthorn cows. Tho progeny of this cross will equal anything m size, combined ', with quality and rapid moat-producing propensities. Our sheep, if properly cared for at all I seasons, will compare favorably with most ! countries, as far as our breeds extend ; but t doubtless, as tho supply of tho English and I other markets with meat as well as wool has ! now becomo an established fact, many ■ judicious changes can be made m this branch of stock. Tho farmer of ICO acres or more, I will never do go well with his land as . when he keeps a proportionate number of \ sheep to other stock on the same. To render , theso moat profitable, they should bo of a '. breed combining tho following advantageous ' qualities : — Symmetry, size, weight and t quality of fleece, fecundity, with proportionate lacteal or milk producing properties, early [ maturity m growth, with a tendency when , feeding of making a largo proportion of lean : meat outwardly, with a proportionate weight. • of suet and tallow inwardly. Such a breed . has for many years been represented m '. England by the "Shropshire Down," origi- '. nully derived from the " South Down " by careful and judicious crossing with ' larger breeds. They aro not to bo beaten ', for weight or quality of meat, which figures , from 2(7 lo 3d per 1b abovo tho heavy white- , faced breeds m the London mnrket. They , are very productive, a good flock of ewea , (after hoggets) seldom averaging less than . 200 per cent of lambs. Their fleece is closer , and finor than longwools, of medium length , of staple, and doos not fall short m weight. Our down land and dry plains aro admirably adapted for them, and their moro general introduction would be worth an experiment , with our stud flock owners. Great credit is duo to tho offorts of those gentlemen who aro trying to bring about a i system of irrigation on our plains. It is to ; be hoped they will pcrsovore and succeed iv carrying tho samo into a reality, as doubtless , it would httvo a beneficial effect on our climato by insuring a more regular rainfall, i after the parching winds to which we aro , always subject m spring and autumn, as ■ well as supply water for stock and irrigation , on large extents of land, which is not now i producing half tho feed or crop it is cupablo ; of bearing, with a sufficiency of moisture i Though last, not least, may be said of the i evidont intention of somo of our enterprising , men to bring to light tho mineral rcßourcos of i our neighborhood, m tho shape of coal, lime, i marble, pipo and pottery clay, building stone, i &o. Everyone has cause to hopo that their ' efforts will bo crowned with success, and if tho coal obtained Bhould prove to bo of i secondary quality, it would bo a groat boon ■ as fuel to burn an inexhaustible supply of limestono, brickß, pottery, &0., which, with . other feeders, passing through an agricultural , district would insure substantial returns from . a branch line or tramway. The future ngri- ' cultural and pastoral prosperity of this dis- ; trict not a iittlo depends on obtaining a ' supply of lime, which can bo applied to tho lana m a regular system. Tillage and pas- ; turo will equally benefit by it, not only for : tho want supplied, but by the wholesale des- ) truction of noxious grubs and larva, which i injure our corn and root crops and scarify our [ pastures. I could writo more on country ) topics, but time compols me to draw to a ■ close. I am, &0., I Live and Leibh.

THE FUTURE OF NORTH BORNEO. (By a Resident m Borneo.) The North Borneo Company have decided to make another call upon its shareholders. Before this ia paid it would be well if those concerned would read the following communication from a correspondent who knows Borneo intimately. To place the territory of the North Borneo Company under the political administration of the Rajah of Sarawak would, our correspondent urges, be advantageous to the intereats alike of the natives of this country and of tho Company itself : — The attention of the British public having been drawn during the last week through the medium of tho newspapers to tho island of Borneo, a few remarks relating to this subject may not be without interest to some of your readers. It would, perhaps, be well to remind them that tho north-west coast of the island is divided into three unequal parts, the first of which, with a sea frontage of 400 miles, belongs to Rajah Brooke, the nephew of Sir James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak. The adjoining country, with 100 miles of coast line, is still m the possession of the Sultan of Borneo, who there is strong reason to believe will eventually cede his rights willingly to the RBJah of Sarawak. Then follows tho largo tract of land, covering some 25,000 Bquare milos, which is m the possession of the North Borneo Company, a mercantile enterprise founded on the model of the East India Company. This, company ia deserving of the highest possible praise m bo far as, while carrying out its own interests, it has given a certain impetus to trade and commerce m that part of the Eastern Archipelago. The present head and administrator of the company m Borneo, Mr Treacher, is no doubt a very shrewd business man, but surely something more than business talent is required to keep a large tract of land with somo 150,000 native inhabitants on a satisfactory footing. There are always two sides to evory question. If the company has stationed itself m that country with not much hope of ulterior gain, but simply with a view to keeping any foreign Power from a coast which possesses a certain amount of strategical importance, its patriotic intentions cannot be too highly commended. Until the present j time, although the company was fairly started, and backed up by a charter being granted to it by Her Majesty's Government, the outlay has been really more than the profits which have been realised — the proportion being about £20,000 of profit to £35,000 of outlay yearly. This seems scarcelya satisfactory state of things m the eyes of those English people most interested m Borneo. And the question naturally arises as to whether j somo redistribution of the ruling powera would not benefit the island commercially | as well as socially. There seem to be many difficulties m the present system. If tho undertaking of the North Borneo Company is to be at once prosperous and remunerative, the goodwill and allegiance of the native population is indispensable. It is easy enough to keep a fringe of the coast m tolerable subjection by a judicious display of Her Majesty's gunboats. This the present administrator, m his dual position of manager of the company's affairß and acting Governor, is always able to effect ; but the extent of land which the company claims to have acquired is over 25,000 square miles. It is from exploitation of the interior of this district, and not from the coast, that they propose to derive their profit, and no doubt a vast amount of riches, both natural and mineral, existß m these unknown and unexplored regions. Unfortunately, sending European products among a savage population, which is only accustomed to submission to political and not commercial rulers, is attended by a considerable amount of danger. Rightly or wrongly, the natives of Borneo, who are civilised enough to recognise tho authority of a king, are scarcely disposed to accept the authority of a shareholder. Several valuable lives have already beon lost m the attempt to effect this revolution m what to them is more of a religion than a tradition. Only the other day, on the annexation of the River Kawang by the company, the natives rose m open revolt, killed one Englishman and severely wounded another. For more reasons than I have space here to mention it would Beem desirable that the government of the natives should be separate from all trading interests. While fully recognising the legal position occupied by the Company, it cannot be expected that the rightful tenants of this part of Borneo should welcome with open arms an association of European capitalists, whose every motive m native eyes is the acquiring of wealth and tho disregard of native religion, customs, and happiness. The difficulty would be to find a Governor at once uninfluenced by commercial considerations and m sympathy with the just demands of the natives. The only person who seems at present to possess that acquaintance with Bornese interests, and that personal prestige, m the eyes of these half-civilised populations, without which any attempt to govern the island m the interest of England is worse than useless, is that Rajah of Sarawak of whom mention has already beon made. During the last ten years his country has made considerable progress both from a moral and pecuniary point of view. During the last sixteen years, since the accession of the present Rajah, the revenues have been trebled. The loss of life from violent causes has been less than was ever known before m the annals of a country containing nuch wild populations and so many mixed races. Rnjah Brooke, with his small stuff of European officers, stands alone and unprotected by any other force but the affection and goodwill of his subjects, who number 300,000 souls. The taxes of the people of Sarawak are very slight, the revenues being chiefly derived from dues on commerce carried on by Chinese, not bearing on tho native population. Should the North Borneo Company and Sarawak amalgamate m tho way here suggested, the Rajah of Sarawak accepting the government of North Borneo, while the Company contented themselves with prosecuting their commercial interests under the protection of his now popular rule, the Company's expenses would doubtless be much reduced, and security for life and property be fully assured.