PROGRESS OF FARMING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 28 (Supplement)

PROGRESS OF FARMING

RAPID DEVELOPMENT The development of all types of farming throughout the century has been most rapid. It is difficult to-day, Jiving as we do in an age of machinery, aeroplanes, motor cars and tar-sealed roads to visualise and appreciate the hardships endured by the pioneers. New Zealand 100 years ago was a land of doubtful prospects, covered for the most part in heavy forest, and peopled by warlike tribes, but-to-day—a land of bounteous gifts. But the pioneers conquered. They opened up a field of endeavour, and succeeding generations, aided by the advent of refrigeration, established extensive farming in New Zealand. Since then, rapid developmental changes have taken place, and the fanner has, by his own Herculean efforts and virile policy, brought our farming system to its present state of intensive maturity. In New Zealand the future of really intensive farming is as yet unexplored, but this new threshold is infinitely more inviting than that which greeted the earliest settlers. Sporadic Development In the earliest stage of settlement farming, as a major occupation, was practically unknown. Other and more lucrative occupations presented themselves. What little stock was in the country was used purely for domestic purposes. Subsequent years saw some further sporadic development. The gold and timber boom was subsiding. In Canterbury, the Walrarapa, and Hawke’s Bay areas were found where large tracts of land covered in native and tussock grasses made settlement an economic possibility. On these areas the first pastoral farms were established, and in Canterbury the land was found suitable for wheatgrowing. dfie of the biggest handicaps in farming right up till comparatively recent times was transport. The first railway made its appearance in 1863, from Christchurch to Woolston, but it was many years before rail services were of any real benefit to the Colony. Gradually freezing works were established at various points, but stock for slaughter had, in most cases, to undertake a long and arduous trek. The machinery of refrigeration was still imperfect, and though it made rapid strides, and though ships and railway wagons were designed to meet the needs, the isolation factor still remained predominant. At this period machinery on the farm was all but unknown. Waterwheels and steam engines were in the colony, but their use on farms was limited, and it was not until many years later that their use and that of internal combustion engines became fairly widespread. All cultivation and haulage work had to be done by horse and oxen, and the state of the roads made their use in transport a necessity. All shearing had to be done by hand, involving a long and arduous shearing season. Wool presses were crude and cumbersome, and, altogether, compared with modern mechanised and improved technique, the getting-up of the wool clip was an exhaustive business. Modern shearing plant, driven in most cases by oil engines or electric ]K>wer, improved shed design and appliances and better transport to recognised marketing centres, have overcome many of the difficulties presented in the past. Early Implements The original implements used in extensive cultivation were singlefurrow wooden or iron ploughs. Such was the fertility of much virgin land that seed scattered on such a bed and followed by harrowing gave good results. With the expansion of the wheat trade came double and multiple-furrow ploughs, though these latter were limited by tractive power. The first crops in New Zealand were harvested by sickle and scythe, which methods were followed by various evolving types of mowing machine. In all of these methods the sheaves had to be bound by hand and carted to the thresher. Reapers and binders were introduced about 1880, and these and mowing machines have progressed in design up to the present day. The harvester, first developed in America and Australia, made its appearance considerably later, but is now in general use and has greatly reduced casts. After 1900 an extraordinary variety of agricultural implements made their appearance, reflective of an inventive machine age. The possibility of science and machinery being an aid to farmers was being seriously considered, and before many years passed science did come to the assistance of the farmers in many directions. The progress in the dairy Industry from the primitive to the modern has been phenomenal. The introduction of machinery was wholly responsible for the transformation which came over the industry. Apart from the improvement in organisation, dairy machinery, dairy factories, and farm layout, a considerable amount of the expansion was due to improved methods of farm management, resulting in a better use of the land and

the carrying of more cows. In addition, the use of a scientificallybased testing scheme enabled correct breeding practice to be established, and the quality as well as the number of cows has been tremendously increased. No doubt the pioneer felt the unapproachable joy of achievement in breaking Nature to his use, but there is still hard work in plenty, and the new farmer is on the threshold of an era of intensive farming where labour is not enough. He must be equally a worker, business man and scientist.