FARM GOSSIP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 16712, 7 February 1873, Page 2

FARM GOSSIP.

" Old Colonial " in the Auckland Weekly JS Tews,

It is not every Governor that identifies ' himself with the industries of the colony ho governs, more especially is this the case iiv regard to the primal industry of all countries—agriculture. Fi'rivers themselves, in too many instances, look upon the occupation they follow as something beneath them, and it is little to be wondered at should Governors and others manifest small interest in an occupation despised even by those who earn a living at it. There are happily some noble exceptions to this general rule. Sir James Fergusson. our figure Governor, took a lively interest in the agriculture in South Australia, and also in the new industries which have been established there during his term of governorship. On his arrival here we may expect ho will manifest an equal interest in our agricultural pursuits. This will give encouragement in many quarters, and I hope to see, before his term of office expires, agriculture recognised as one of the chief industries in the colony, and a Minister appointed whose duty"it will' be to watch the interests of, and foster up, agriculture in every district of the colony. A beautiful example comes from Tasmania of a Governor of thatcolony, whohasmade the science of agriculture a study, and he is recognised as no mean authority on the subject. By papers lately come from Tasmania, I see that for a long time past there have existed two agricultural societies in that colony, the Northern and Western Agricultural Associations. Acting on the suggestion of the Governor these societies have been amalgamated, and the first show of the combined societies was held at Longford on the 4th December. The show was a success, notwithstanding some few drawbacks. At the luncheon his Excellency, in proposing the toast, " Prosperity and success to the Society/'delivercd to the assembled farmers a speech right worthy of a Governor. He displayed a thorough kn o wledge of the true interests of the farmers, and Ihe best means of promoting them. For this purpose the principle of amalgamating forces, combining strength, and thereby producing concentrated action was strongly urged, not in reference to agricultural societies alone, but to the general improvement of land, and the introduction of labour-saving implements and machinery. The necessity of providing labour-saving appliances I have so often urged upon my readers, apparently in vain, that I feel something like pride when I find agricultural authorities in other parts of the world enunciating the same principle. His Excellency also showed how these ends could be accomplished. He showed that the improvement of laud could be effected by the formation of companies, whose special function would be to lend money to landed proprietors for works of improvement ; and the introduction ofiabour-saving machinery could be accomplished by the farmers in certain districts combining to purchase the best machinery and implements for their mutual use nnd benefit. He showed that the real secret of modern British farming consisted in the systematic preparation of the soil, careful selection of seed, judicious rotation of crops, and a liberal restoration of the elements of fertility to the soil. Tiy those means exhaustion of the soil was avoided, and the greatest possible yield secured. The speech was a most encouraging one, and was devoid of all those croakings which usually disfigure agricultural speeches. It was a speech well calculated to infuse hope in the breasts of desponding agriculturists, and to inspire them with new life and vigour in the pursuit of farming. There are in many passages of the speech such gooa truths so pithily expressed in choice language, that I cannot refrain from quoting some of them in full. After advocating the amalgamation of the different agricultural societies in the colony he said:—

" s Andwhcn weseeTasmanianstud sheep, and pure bred cattle eagerly sought after and carrying- off first honors'iu the neighboring colonies; when -we know, too, that fallen as Tasmania is now-'a-days from her former high estate in the matter of horse-breeding, she can even yet breed a winner of a Melbourne Cup (great applause); I don't chink you need be afraid of challenging your neighbours to a wider battle field than that which is offered by a ploughing match. And, gentlemen, if I may pass from what may happen in the future' to what might actually be 'lone in the present, I would say that this principle of amalgamating forces and combining- strength, is one which is recognised by England in other matters connected with agriculture besides the concentration of agricultural societies. It has been recognised for years past in the formation of .public lands improvement . companies, for lending; money to landed proprietors for draining and otherwise improving their properties. It has been recognized, lately again, in The formation of companies for utilising in irrigation the sewage of towns. And it. is also being recegnized in a manner as I think still more applicable in an agricultural district like this. I mean by the combination of farmers resident within a certain area for the purchase of the best and newest steam and other agricultural machinery for their mutual use and benefit. In this waj many a farmer is now-a-days enabled, to reap the best and newest ma"liiueryon hisland, which he never could otherwise liavo obcainad with his own

unaided resources. And I cannot help thinking that in a country like this, where labor is scarce in quantity and indifferent in quality, it is worth while for the members of a society like thisto consider whether a combination of this kind could not be formed to the mutual benefit of all concerned.

Farmers in this province will recognise great similarity between the labour supply in Tasmania and that available here. The labour supply seem to be alike in both countries—in quantity and quality. But his Excellency made reference to other subjects. Speaking of farmers being learned in agriculture he says : —•

"There will be a time, I think, when fanners will recognise, the truth that agriculture, whether it be in England or in Tasmania, is not a pursuit to be rashly taken up at a moment's notice. Nor is it a pursuit, the sole stock-in-trade reqnired for which are a pair of strong arms, and a few pounds in hand to be expended iv the fir s t year's rental of an already worn-out and deserted holding, or the purchase of as many acres of almost impenetrable primeval forest. They will learn by degrees that agriculture is a profession requiring as much as any other 10 command success, previous education, and special training, and a combination of capital, intelligence and energy. And gentlemen, as a inoana to accomplish so desirable an end, let me call on you to fill your glasses and drink with all the. honors, "Prosperity and success to the Northern Agricultural Association." I will only say, may its amalgamated shadow never grow less, but year by year may the area of its operations, the number of its subscribers, and the sphere of its usefulness continue to increase and infuse new life and vigor into the whole system of Tasmariian farming." His Excellency is. right, and before many years shall have elapsed, the much despised so-called " book farming" will be in greater favour here than it is now.

In-this province the supply of. butter is generally far in excess of the demand during the .summer season' at least. The consequence is that butter becomes very low priced—so low that it does not pay the farmer to produce it The farmer gets disgusted with his occupation, and goes harping about the dullness of. the times, the unprofitableness of farming, &c. The cause of all those complaints have been pointed out again and again—the want of organisation amongst the farmers themselves. If a little •rganisation existed amongst tl.em a system of preserving butter for exportation would soon be adopted. There is a demand in Britain for all the good butter that can be sent to her hungry millions. That butter can be preserved so as to be good when landed in Britain lias been several times proved, and different plans have been adopted for that purpose. By a kte Australian paper I see thai Mr F. W. Thrum, of Balkrat, has successfully exported to Britain in small quantities. In a letter to the Kyneton Observer he says :—

In December last year during the time the Kyneton Company was soliciting parcels ot butter for the purpose of sending it to the country, I thought I would try a little experiment, upon my own account. So I had a 61b tin made in Kyneton, took it home, filled it with butter made at home, and put no more salt in it than usual. I then soldered it down myself and upon my own principle. I also prepared hams, cheeks, and tongues, packed them in a box, and sent them to Melbourne. They were put cm board ship kden with wool in January last; the ship was eight months on'her voyage, owing to damages received. I got a letter by the last mail stating.that, notwithstanding the extraordinary long voyage the butter when opened was found to be as sweet as the day ii was packed, and all the other things in an equally good state of preservation.

\Vhen that can be accompanied by a settlei- iv the neighouring colony of Victoria, I see no reason' why the plan should not be .successfully carried out here. Where the systematic curing, of butter started here, for ex portation to Britain, a uniform price would soon become the order of the day, and farmers would be enabled to reap some advantage from the greater abundance of butter during the summer season, for an almost uniform price would prevail iv summer and winter. Will any one ot our Agricultural Societies take the matter in hand? '■■...- OiD Colonial.