AGRICULTURE AS A PROFESSION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2482, 21 March 1882, Page 3

AGRICULTURE AS A PROFESSION.

[Prom the “ Weekly Press.”] Farming is rapidly becoming one of the most scientific pursuits of the day. To ensure now any degree of success practice must be combined with science. The aim of every farmer who is engaged entirely with, and mast live solely from his farm, is to make it as productive as possible, and to avoid ns far os ho can unnecessary or unprofitable expenditure. Success is based upon a sound and safe groundwork in beginning upon a farm. In fact it may be compared to the initiatory steps of a schoolboy in commencing a language, the rudiments must be thoroughly, completely mastered, otherwise an imperfect knowledge will be the result. So it is with the business of farming, particularly in the old country, where the maiden virtues of the soil have been extracted centuries ago, and where it is only by the union of science with practice that satisfactory results can be achieved. Although the New Ze&l&id farmer may still continue to plough, sow, and reap profitable crops of cereals without regard to the warnings of scientists, or the teachings of practice ; still the day is not far distant when mother earth will take the matter into,her own hands, end by refusing to yield a profitable return, will compel us to turn, our attention to a more rational system than that of thoughtless spoliation. Thus it is that we would continue to urge upon our readers, those whose business it is to till the soil, the necessity of studying the nature and requirements of the farm laws. A great deal has been writ'en regarding the science of ompping, and the uses and effects of manures. We would bore remark that nothing is more valuable to a young farmer than to keep, with the very greatest care and attention, a perfect record of the treatment of every field. In fact, so minute are these requirements, that it is of value tu note results from diSeient dates of ploughing the land, but especially is it instructive to watch the effects of tho preceding crops. To acquire a knowledge of the beat rotation is for a young farmer as necessary as learning indetsil all that qualifies a young man for the profession of medicine or law, and through lacking snch knowledge, many a man has mined a good farm, and ultimately has found himself in the Insolvent Court. As illustration, it may be mentioned that in some parts of Scotland tho practice is to break up grass for oats, and following with beans, which system answers well. But to reverse this order, by taking a bean crop first, that is grow beans after grass, and oata after beans, the results will be such as to indicate tho value of one crop as the precursor of another. Again, the good results proj duced by a crop of red clover pre--1 ceding wheat are also well known. Science, aided by practical teaching, helps the farmer to avoid serious and expensive mistakes. Tho experimental department of our model farm mutt prove of groat value if a good series of experiments are conducted, by testing the relative value of land manures, by showing the best system of rotation, and in ascertaining, as far as possible, to what extent preceding crops may assist or deteriorate the succeeding ones. Agricultural chemists all admit that nature has secrets, especially in regard to rotations, which the most scientific skill cannot unravel, particularly ia relation to what a preceding crop may supply to the next. For example, it u cereal crop is grown consecutively for years, a much greater deterioration will take place from repetition than with a cereal crop which has been alternated with another, even though the alternate cereal crop should be more exhaustive. This we have seen proved with consecutive crops of oats, which were inferior to the crop alternated with wheat. Any observant farmer has often been puzzled with striking and peculiar variations in tne crop of a field. Wo have often been struck on a spring or early summer afternoon, when tho light was favorable, and tho crops were at the beet stage of growth for the purpose, with the variety of shade in fields of grain which had been sown on the same day. We have observed linos extending the whole length or breadth of a paddock, which upon closer inspection showed a marked dis tinction, both with regard to bulk and maturity. These results we have invariably traced to the effects of different modes of cropping, which had occurred years before. In these days of keen competition for the supply of corn and meat to feed the manufacturing millions of Europe, it behoves those engaged in agricultural pursuits in tho colonies to look upon their calling as a profesrion, and to study it accordingly. It is only by doing so we can hope to obtain as will benefit ourselves and our posterity,