AGRICULTURE.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 23, 10 January 1844, Page 4

AGRICULTURE.

On Seeds.—Never retain the same kinds of seeds too long upon the land ; at the end of three years it will generally deteriorate, and ought to be changed ; change of seed always- produces a change for the betteVin the crops. Heavy clay lands will longest retain the seed pure ; light loans and peat soils will sooner require the change. In selecting seed, it ■hould be ascertained, if possible, where and on what kind of soil it grew ; and •elect a soil of different quality to that on which it is to he sown. Never select ■eed from a rich soil to sow it on a poor; that ftom a poor soil to sow it on a rich. Always select seed well cleaned and pure, being strictly of the •ame kind ; seed of different kiuds will ▼egetate at different times, and ripen at different seasons, which occasions serious "lews, and further deterioration of sample. THe cultivation of potatoes tends to loosen the soil; and if this is light already, howgver rich it may be, it is rendered unfit for wheat, which likes a firm bottom, and is apt to be thrown out by the frosts in spring. On light soils there is no preparatory crop for wheat, like broad clover, •» experience has fully proved, and for a heavy land-presser to follow the plough is of very great advantage to make a firm bottom to receive the seed. The following rotatiou on a very good light soil will be found among the best. Ist year: winter tares sow on the wheat stubble, and followed with turnips, sow as soon as the tares are cut for fodder; potatoes, carrots, mangold, wurtzel, swedes, and common turnips. The proportion of each depends on circumstances and on the state of the land. 2nd year: barley and oats, halt of it with clover. 3rd year : clover and peas, on the barley or oat stubble. 4th year: wheat. The same course may be repeated, provided potatoes, clover, and peas recur on'y every eighth year, which is easily managed. All the crops •xcept clover and tares must be drilled and well hoed. Neatly the same rotation will do tor good heavy loams, beans being substituted for peas. What may succeed pota'oes in heavy soils;-but clover and beans are thought to be a better prepara- , tion. \Vhei« the land is not well suited to the growth of bailey, oats are a better crop. Carrots will not succeed in very •tiff soils. Gardener a Chronicle. § Promts o? Farming.—An latelligent eorres* yendentof a Loudon c«nterap<>rary speaking ot the profile of farming as indicated by the payments to the income tax, say*, that nheuthe return for farru•rs* Income is stated in the late budget to have •mounted to £330,000, instead of £150,000, »t which it waeentimated, this excess roust not be •onsidered as having arisen from the farmers* profits during the year. He states the facts to be that tbe majority of the farmers, and himself amongst the number, have suffered a loss in the year ending Lady-day last of nearly half their rental. His own loss, upon a fairly rented farm of a-year, appears by his books to have been j£l9o. Another Such year, he says, would cause the abandonment of nearly one-third of the farms io the kingdom. A miser of the name of John Tolkerton died lately in Loudon. He had attained tbe age of 81 year*, and bad accumulated upwards of £60,000, though lie scarcely allowed himselt the necessaries of life. Curiosity is a kernel of the forbidden frait which still sticks in tbe throat of a natural man, •onetime* to the danger of hi* choakinj.