FARMERS' CLUBS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 267, 7 February 1879, Page 2

FARMERS' CLUBS.

To 4he Editor of the Akaroa Mail, i

Sir, —Having read the short speech delivered by Mr Coop at the banquet given in honor of the member for the district and the Hon. John Hall, as shadowed forth in a ■ leading article of your issue of Friday last, and your own remarks thereanent, I think that a step in the right direction is advocated. However, it ia my belief that a still further step might' be taken with safety. I allude to the formation of Farmers'; .Clubs on the Peninsula, such as are in vogue in all parts of the Western District of Victoria.

The Clubs I allude to meet periodically, saj fortnightly, when discussions take place, ideas and experiences are exchanged, papers on different subjects are read, &c. In fact, the establishment of these Clubs in Victoria has done more to advance the agricultural and pastoral interests than a century of experimenting by -a single individual farmer could do. You state in your leader that Mr Coop is about to act up to what he gave expression to by cutting up his land in Little River into holdings of 100 and 200 acres, and finding oat what particular product would best suit each of the different farms.

Would it not be more to his advantage to endeavor to obtain the informat'on from some member of a club such as I, for one, would like to see instituted, for doubtless among a body of men of the kind there would be one or more who would gladly furnish him with the information he seeks. It would be of the utmost value to the Peninsula were such a club started, for I believe that every farmer, no matter how experienced he may be, is lacking in many essentials, and the very information he lacks may possibly be obtained from another farmer who had made it his business to enquire into, and succeeded, in acquiring the knowledge the other bad endeavored in vain to obtain. For instance—one may be skilled in the manufacture of cheese, another in butter, No. 3 as to what kind of cereal is best suited for what kind of soil, No. 4 as to the best kind of manure for different lands in various localities, No. 5 in the breeding of stock, and so on. Now, if each- of these farmers met together, and exchanged their several experiences, it would save years of toil and" anxiety to all the five, and enhance "the value of their different products comparatively. - - -What I would suggest to Mr Coop is, that he should take step's to form such a club, and so save, the trouble and expense of finding oat f->r himself what he desires. The expense of working - these clubs is next to nothing, the principal expense being the engagement of a room wherein to hold their meetings, and-I am sure that you, Sir, would gladly publish papers that may be read at the meetings, for the information and benefit of theMnhabitante of the Peninsula generally. 1 • One more remark, and lam done. The Vigilance Committee, that was supposed to commence their vigilance when the Akaroa Railway Bill was, before Parliament, but of which I have not heard anything since, could not possibly advance the interests of the Peninsula . more than by forming a club such as I have faintly endeavored to outline. Trusting that abler pens will take "this matter up, and at the same time apologising for trespassing upon your valuable space, I"beg to subscribe myself, Sir, Yours, &c, AGRICOLA.