"THE FARM-ACY."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 16

"THE FARM-ACY."

At "The Farm-acy" in Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North, visitors will find exhibits dealing almost entirely -with tho marking of stock for breeding and registration purposes. With closer settlement, the identification of stock becomes of greater importance, and a growing movement in the farming community for better strains has created a demand for branding implements. The burning brands of this firm are made of copper, which henls twice as quickly as iron, and does not rust. As new land is taken up, the allotment of ear-marks differing in design becomes more difficult. Here on view are punches cutting three designs ni once. Ilorn-trnftiers are a speciality. These arc atlached to I lie horns of young cattle, and train the horns lo (lie ideal l.vpe. Tlie mnsl: reeeiit design for burning brands is I he owner's name in shorthand. This, (ogother with nil car-tag, gives the wholo oedigreo of the animal at a glance,

Tha Government under this Act acquires estates and smaller blocks with the object of making provision for peoplo who ore not desirous, and perhaps not well equipped, for the task of carving out a homo in some remote- bush district, or in such areas, for instance, as tho waste, fern-covered areas in the central portion of the North Island. It is with some diffidence and regret that I express this opinion, the more so as I can look back upon the days when wo possessed hugo areas of all classes of land, and threw them open so as amply to provide, In those days, for all tho requirements of nil classes of settlers." Questioned as to the best preliminary training for a young intending settler, Mr. Marehaut remarked that a man who could afford tho expense might do wisely tc send his son for two or three years to an establishment liko Lincoln. College. Such an experience would give tho young man a splendid preparation and training for his future career. On tho other hand, a man of moderate means might do better to placo his son with some respectable fanner engaged in the kind of farming which the young ma.n intended to tako up. Practical training under such circumstances might easily prove even more profltable to tho prospective settler than a college training. A man of tho right stamp could always acquire the theoretical knowledge necessary to supplement practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits, viud tho value to a young man of'a sound practical training at the outset of his career could not well bo overestimated. Questioned next about tho prospects of the man without capital or possessing only slender! means, Mr. Marckant spoko guardedly. "Capital is a big question," lio remarked. "In past years I nave seen a man with wife and children, mowly 'arrived from the Old Country, go up into tho Forty Milo Bush and lake up a village settlement holding. Those were days nl which work was plentiful, and any products from the soil were readily saleable, between outside employment and improvement of their own holdings, some .settlers of this class succeeded in obtaining enough money to enable them to take up larger holdings. Still depending to a considerable extent on outsido employment, in road-making, with survey parties, or in sawmills, some.settlers contrived from very email beginnings to _ become tho owners of comfortable holdings, yielding a satisfactory income. A townsman determining to tako up agricultural pursuits would necessarily have to gain experience, aucl liis best course would bo to 6eek employment in tho country, on a farm, conducted upon the lines of his own contemplated future home. Ho will receive good wages, and probably find satisfactory employment also for the members of his family. In this way he should be able to put by the greater portion of his wages, and accumulate sufficient capital (o start as a man of fomo experience upon his own nccount. Tlio difficulty again will bo to find a suitable allotment or farm to acquire. Ho would either have to resort t-i tho same steps as our young friend previously mentioned, or his hopes may be in the direction of obtaining by lease or purchase a portion of tho freehold lands in the vicinity of his employment. At nil event:? it is certainly better that ho should first gain experience in working for others than that he should attempt to gain it at his own expense by taking up a holding before ho is qualified by experience to work it. It is a not uncommon thing for men such as we nro speaking of to receive- the utmost consideration and valuable assistance from their employers or other friends whom they may m«ki< in gaining their experience of country life. Private owners in subdividing their property frequently give- tho preference to their own omployoes.