AGRICULTURE.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 7, 23 April 1845, Page 2

AGRICULTURE.

SiR,-Pnor to my departure from this place Iγ T \ ne{[ yl°V™a fewremavk3 on the S! H <. Ur u l . c fPabihue 3 of tins country, and the prospects held out to fanners therein. It is too cojnmonly found in all new settlements, that many non-practical or inexperienced men commence farming, and it frequently occurs that nJSlfh - 8 T reca P ital their experienced ™f h° UrS, Aey a PP are ntly make more proS *Au v° me . mOre - noticed ' and take the lead 2 Itural meetings, &c., which has a very prSca Q vs- C h M U Causes their nonineir example in their system and eeneral t?b"Trofit n a t h , l WhiC A h ,, i 3 COmmoill y stricter pi I ' AU ? ew c °untri e3 require the

The writer of this was, on his first onset at farming in New Zealand, much puzzled by the numerous recommendations and assertions of parties professing to understand the climate and seasons, making it appear that every thing here was in opposition to the nature and customs at home; these are dangerous positions, and I only mention them to caution inexperienced farmers not to trust too much to their own judgement, and to be very careful that they are not relying upon assumed experience, for every failure in this cause is a public loss, as it destroys confidence in the calling, deters others from undertaking it, and gives the country a bad name abroad.

As a wheat producing country I cannot much recommend it, for although abundant crops can be produced, it will not in any probability be worth attention much beyond the quantity re • quired for consumption in the colony. Van Diemen's Land, "the beat wheat country in the wordly," South Australia, and South America, are ail too near Sydney ever to allow of any great demand for flour from here. Again, the natives of this place can undergrow the European settler who has labour to pay for; and the South Australian farmer has such extensive plains, ;o level and so available for immediate cultivation, that they can employ the most improved machinery, and produce at a cost below whal would 'remunerate a large grower here; and lastly, from the nature of the climate and soil of this country, the grain in question will always be more or less subject to disease, smut, &c.

As a barley growing country, this is equal to any in the world, and I would earnestly recommend the farmers of New Zealand to pay attention to this grain in particular, as from it can be secured a valuable export. It is a well known fact, that the adjoining colonies, except Tasmania, will not produce malting barley, and in that colony they cannot consider it by any means a certain cropr This country, both as regards climate_ and soil, is peculiarly adapted for the production ; and it may, under ordinary management, be produced in abundance, with certainty, and well remunerate- the producer. Barley requires to be put in when the soil is dry, which should be well pulverised; it may, in this country, be «own either in the auiurnn or spring, the former season 1 prefer (about June), there being no severe wintt-r to cut the crop, and the weather being more favourable for sowing; than the spring season, as we generally experience the worst weather at that time, sometimes rendering it impossible to put in the seed properly untill too late, when the dry weather sets in, and short crops are the consequence. Corn drills are admirably adapted to this country, as the quantity of seed required is rather less than at home, it is the more difficult to sow, and good seedsmen are her more scarce; again, the seed is deposited all at one depth, which causes it to grow and ripen more evenly. The general quality of land in the plains of this colony, will produce on an average, under decent management, about 44 to 48 bushels per acre, which at 4s. to ss. per bushel, would remuneiate the gro.ver. As there is a steady demand for malt in Sydney, and the other Australian colonies, and an almost unlimited market in India for good mall liquors, I think I p.m not wrong in presuming that barley will be found one of the best cropsfor the New Zealand farmer to aim al.

Oats are best sown i:i the autumn, as also wheat, for both of which the land is better left rasher rough when sown at that season. Oats produce generally a greater quantity per acre than any other grain, however, I'do not myself see any thing to recommend an extensive cultivation of that grain. In England, oats answer . better than other grains on sour, new land, but in this country barley answers best us a first crop, and as the latter is the best grain for fattening pigs, mixed with potatoes, and it be used for such purposes with profit, should the first crop prove inferior for malting purposes. Oats are useful for making h<iy, for which purpose they are best sown at the time I have above recommended, a little mixture of Cape barley is an improvement to it. Agricultural farming, unconnected with ihecp and stock, breeding and grazing, particularly the former, is not in any country a very flourishing undertaking—the returns are slow and far between : that system of farming which admits of sheep and stock running, and the districts adapted for such arrangements are most desirable, as by such the farmer has always something marketable, the woo!, mutton, beef,&c. coming in at seasons when the grain is growing. The most approved systems of farming are, the four ; & five course shifts, which gives equal divisions of cropping and grazing, and which divide the , labour of the farm more equally, and thereby reduces the expense of management. A farm of 400 acres would, on the five course shift, be di\ifJed something like the following— f 80 acres of wheat or oats, 80 of barley, 80 o green crop first fallowed, and 160 of pasturage. In England the wheat stubble is fallowed in the t winter, cleaned in the spring' and sown with turnips, which are consumed in the winter, beI ing folded off with sheep, and sown with barley jr in the following spring, amongst which clovers I and grass are sown for the succeeding two % years pasturage, when it again comes round for I wheat or oats. From this can easily be traced * the course of succession of the five course shift I as practised on sonic of the best farmed districts I of the north of England. Circumstances may, I however, vary such plan a little here, such as I tnere being sufficient time after the wheat or I oats are off to clean, fallow the land, and pres pare for the green crop, which could be grown jr the lame autumn, and consumed in time for a jL spring crop of barley; this would bring the five gr course round in four years instead of five, conU eequently the returns must therefore be inX creased. This plan admits of a breeding flock U of 300 ewes and about 10 cows, with their proj| duce, until marketable, being grazed upon a m f arm of entirely'arable land. The annual rejf, turns would be nearly as follows—wool, at Is. m Per ]fe, £200; carcasses of sheep, at 10s., £130; §1 10 two year old horned cattle, at £5, £50; jf 3200 bushels of marketable barley, at 45., £640; m 2403 bushels of wheat, at 45., £48 >--total,£l4so: jjj* this is exclusive of produce of cows, poultry," It Pig9> &c, of which many could be fed on surgjl plus or bffal grain. # The expeiices of managing jjl a farm of this size, if worked by horses, would

be for labour and wear and tear about £400 Allowing the same capital for purchasing, fencing,, first cultivating, and stocking as a tenant requires to enter upon such a farm in the north of Lngland, will be about £9 per acre, which would be sufficient, the capital so required is £3600, and interest on same (beiiv riskable property) at £12 per cent, is £132, making a total for exigences and interest of £832, leaving a balance of J6lB.

Now this sum would be wanted for rent in England, after which taxes, highway and poor rates must be met; but it must bo borne in mind, that the rate is double to the English, and the rates obtained for produce less, which will bring England nearer on a par with this country for a farmer. These calculations tend to shew that farming would be a profitabie investment here, which I unhesitatingly say would be the case on the scale I have taken, and with economical and experienced management. I must, however, be understood, thai it is only the plains which are adapted for this purpose, not by any means the hilly, heavy wooded districts. The fact of being independent of landlords, agents, game holders, &c, having no rents or taxes to pay, must be agreeable, and prove successful to practicable men possessing the required capital. ■• °

One of the greatest temptations to a farmer to transport himself.to a new county is the opportunity to branch out as his means increase. In England it is of no use taking a farm without sufficient capital to work it at once, the whole being in cultivation; here, if he possesses the land, he need only commence operations so far as his capital may allow — expanding as his means increase.

On the relative value of oxen or horse labour much might be said.—Oxen are decidedly preferable at the commencement, and until horse keep is provided, they grazing in the bush, where horses would fare but poorly; after the land is broken up, and horse keep provided, the latter are preferable, t'.vo being sufficient to plough' any land in New Zealand, and being driven with reins by the ploughman, one man's labour is there!} , saved; besides the work being generally better performed, particularly harrowing, which requires a smarter pace than bullocks usually move at, and the land is much less trampled by horses, which is a great consideration in soft weaiher. I am convinced, Mr. Editor, there are some experienced and well informed farmers in your district, and I would respectfully suggest to them, that they should from time to time, communicate their experience, by which means they would enlighten each other, cause emulation, and confer a public benefit. I feel assured your columns will always be open to such matters. If time permits me, I will once more trouble you ere I depart,—if not, farewell. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, Rusticus. Wellington, April 21, 1845.