AMATEUR FARMING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 2 August 1871, Page 3

AMATEUR FARMING.

Let a writer in a newspaper point out the defects in the course of operations pursued by " practical" farmers, and he is instantly assailed as a mere theorists who cannot possibly know anything of agriculture because, he never turned a furrow, perhaps, in his life. A better appreciation of the exertions of amateur farmers seems at length, however, likely to obtain among our practical men. Without mentioning the thousands of amateurs who are embarked in agricultural pursuits in the United States, and who are, notoriously, amongst the most successful farmers in that great agricultural nation, we need but refer to the example and writings of Mr Mechi, of Tiptree farm, iv England, in illustration of our position that the class, of whom he is a distinguished representative, have done more than any other to advance agriculture to its present condition of comparative perfection. Mr Mechi not long ago was in busines as a merchant in London, and having realised a fortuno by successful business enterprise, he retired to the country and started farming "for love of the life." As an amateur farmer his success is, we believe unparalleled. Out of a small farm of 170 acres he states that he realises £2,000 per annum, clear profit, in the worst seasons ; while in the seasons of 1868 09 he is said to have netted £6,000. He is one of those who have experimented most largely in improved systems of culture, and with the modern inventions of agricultural implements. In fact he may be said to have started an era of innovations upon the old time honored systems of agricultural operations — of innovations whose tendency 13 to increase tenfold the productive powers of the soil. The question, how will farming pay ? has often been asked, and the answer has always been and is still " that the success of the farmer depends upon his having the command of capital, and the way it is ap plied." The following remarks taken from the ' Canada Farmer,' will be found applicable to this province : — " The great evil with the majority of them is that they seem to consider that their land is their capital, and so endeavor at the very commencement of their career to invest every pound they posses, and often a little more besides, in tho purchase of a farm leaving themselves with nothing but their labor with which to carry on the operations of the farm, often at the risk of having to run into debt to an extent that all the earnings of a half stocked and negligently cultivated farm can never pay for. Thus matters go on until the farmer finds his land yearly getting poorer, himself getting worn out with hard work, and his debts accumulating to such an extent that he has to sell off his stock, often his farm, and move to some other location. Probably more than half the farmers of this country find that after paying their laborer's rates tho cost of supporting themselves and their families, they have little or nothing, left to lay by, and are j often obliged to sell the productions of j their farms just as soon as they can be sent to market, bo the price what it may. i Now if a farmer would be contented with just as much land as, after paying for, he would have left sufficient capital to stock properly, and with good stock, purchase the best labor saving implements, and still leave a reserve to fall back upon should crops fail or prices rule low in the fall, and at the same time to be content to work his farm so as to keep it in good heart, looking rather to the future than the immediate realisation of present profits, he will find himself getting in a better position year by year, and as his capital increased from being judiciously laid out, he would be able to make many improve ments that should add greatly to the value of his farm."