Agricultural and Pastoral.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 65, 30 March 1868, Page 78

Agricultural and Pastoral.

AGRICULTURE IN OTAGO. (Otago "Witness.) A' strict adherence to all the minute details necessary to constitute successful farming in the old country, is not requisite here. Fortunately our agriculturists are on a much better footing than their brethren in Britain. Here, almost all are their own landlords. There, heavy rents have to be paid. Our soil is virgin in its character, possessing all the constituents to yield a bountiful return. Theirs is in an exhausted state, requiring a liberal ap plication of varied and expensive manures ere the man that binds the sheaf can fill his bosom. No game laws or poor rates exist to be decried by us. They have to maintain as much game as the laird chooses to protect, and the poor rates are, in many cases, grinding. Other favorable contrasts might be stated, but are unnecessary. The only disadvantage on this side is the rate of wages paid to servants, and when this is fairly considered it is a very trifle. Wages for good men run from .£4O to £6O a*year hereat home, they aie frpm £lB to £4O. There, a farmer must have double the hands required here, so that the difference of rate is made up by the larger number, and the advantage of longer hours is met by the cost of keep. The real vantage ground on which the farmer at home stands, is his training, with its results —system, economy, and application in management.

When a farmer has £2 an acre to pay for rent, £3 for manure, £1 for labor and rates, his management must be a carefully considered plan; his labor economised and turned to the best account, and his own attention closely devoted, before his efforts yield him a profit compensating for his risk and anxiety. Whilst a close adhesion to the whole routine of culture is not essential, still there are certain general principles which underlie all success, and cannot be omitted. These are the following— Drainage Rotations Change of seeds

On them the whole fabric of agricultural prosperity is built. Attention to these in practice proves to the farmer their indispensable character, as they amply remunerate him for the cost they may put him to. It matters not what mode of husbandry is followed, each and all of them hold a primary position, aDd profitable action in the various branches of both agricultural and horticultural science mainly depends on the attention paid to them. Whatever discoveries have been made, and increased knowledge gained, in the advance of the profession, have only added weight to their importance, and testified to their indispensable character. To each of them, and their kindred branches for practical uses, future notices will be devoted.