The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 99, 17 December 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1872.

J r may not, no generally known that Victoria bus lately established a department of agriculture with n .Minister of the Crown to administer it. Mr A. if. \\ a 11 is, the sucre.-sful competitor for the office of secretary to the department, lias published an able paper pointing out what should be its functions, how tnev should be exercised, and the benefit likelv to accrue therefrom. Ho points out that the benefits ic will confer upon the agricultural community will bo the dissemination of useful know ledge, the result ot posit ive experience amongst farmers, thus causing a rational system of agriculture to be established in our midst, without which, land appropriated to tillage cannot maintain its fertility. Further, by pointing out the methods which, if adopted, will enable farmers to turn their laud to better account, lie points out that the Colony ol Tasmania, with an area, of 20,L'l 5 square miles, is unable to feed u population of 101,785 1 his is partially attributable to the exhaustive s-ystem ot farming which h.vs been practised for so many years, Australia is fast approaching (lie same condition. If a country is to flourish, the producing capabilities of its soil must be in a liealthy condition. It should therefore be the policy ot every Covernment to discourage a system which would tend slowly to rob a country of its wealth by exhausting its agricultural areas. The benefits conferred by the department; wdl not be limited to the agricultural classes, livery member of the community will profit more or less by the impetus, which,owing to the increased productiveness ol the soil, will be given to our commerce generally. A country that can produce within itself, at a minimum of expenditure-, all the necessaries of life, must euioy the benefit ot having all oilier things cheap in proportion. Wages, from food being cheap, wiil be cheap also, and every industry placed upon a bettor looting. The duties which would devolve upon a uepartmei.fc ot agriculture—are of I ;l varied^ and important description that the | nuvisabiaty ot establishing a similar institution in this colony is scarcely open to argument. Its first duty would be to make itself thoroughly acquainted with the s\stems ot agriculture practised in the colony ; this could be accomplished through the medium ot existing agricultural societies. The stove of information thus collected would enable tho department to vender assistance to the agricultural community. Another, ain't not the least, impo-taut function of an Agricultural Department would be tho cure ot tho st.-ito forests. It, is quite t;me something was done in this direction in New /.e uitiid ; our forests are gradually disappeanng, find no eiiot'i. is being made to plant or protect from unnecessary waste. The ignorance in this, and in Jai_i ait cimHues, as to the best means of growing \ g l ll,ll or plants other than those grown in the old 1 i-uuntry, is every day brought under our notice. It ! would be one ot the duties ot the department to iiuiush mfoi matiou as to the cultivation of every necessary of life or article of commerce capable of being produced in the country. We believe that tbeie are many otner crops that would Drove equally, it not more, remunerative in the 'semitropical climate ot thy Waikato than wheat and oats. 11 wonul be the duty ot the Agricultural LH-partment by experiment to ascertain the probabilities ot any given crop proving advantageous to the picducL-r, aim publish trie result of the investiv»itli lull instructions as to the course to prsw for its production, and the class of land luiitiiUe. We have previously pointed out the vantages that, would accrue from the establishment of an Agricultural Lollege, the supervision of (riicli an institution would be one of the du'ies that \\uiili. de\oUc ou the Department-, Over- tv ovemed jis this colony Js, and its vitals preyed upon bv inrompetent officialdom as they are and have been for many years, we are Joth to suggest any addition to our burden in this direction. A Minister of Cj ho\\o\er, would be rather a collector

and distributor of useful facts for the enlightenment | of tin; population than an admiuistr utive officer. It would nevertheless be his business to be well informed on all subjects affecting the interests of the industry hp represents, ready to guide his colleagues ! in the Cabinet, and gi\e useful and authoritative: opinions in the House on all legislation bearing on j agricultural interests. The farmer would know to | whom he was to represent a grievance or suggest I legislation. Tin; farming interest is the largest in j tiie colony, and likely to remain so for many years ' to come; in fact, the future prosperity of jXew Zea- : land depends to a great extent upon it, and it is I I only reasonable that there should be a Minister j with an efficient stuff under him specially devoted j :to developing and sustaining it. If anything is to j ! be done in the matter at a short date, it is necessary j 1 that the farmers should commence to agitate at ! I once. If nothing is asked we may rest assured : | that nothing will be given. !