LESSONS FARMERS HAVE LEARNED.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1924, Page 4

LESSONS FARMERS HAVE LEARNED.

(P. W. I). Iz/.ard in '• Daily Mail")

A cynic might say that tin* lesson which agriculture* learned most completely 1 rum the war was that no party in (he Stale is its unshakable friend. There is ample support for that view In tin* crisis of the nation’s food supply the farmer was hailed by all as the saviour of his country, lie was told that the (Jovernmcnt were determined to leave nothing undone to put Ids industry on a satisfactory basis. But the repeal of the Corn Production Act in 1921, when, confident in the promises of that Act, thousands of occupiers had become owners, was one of the heaviest blows llio industry lias ever suffered. It would fie wrong to deny that there is some gain in the clear estimate of the farmer’s position which post-war years have produced. Previously he had cherished always a certain belief that his industry liad national importance. Xow lie is regarding it purely as business to he eonducted in no interest whatever save that of his own livelihood.' A’et agriculture to-day does show salutary changes, some nL least of which can he ascribed to the war’s upheaval. Probably our country was never better farmed, a condition not due to any official menace extended to had cultivators in the war years hut resulting naturally from the fact that so large a number of farmers became possessed of their holdings when great estates were sold. One firm ol estate agents alone between 101!! and 19-22 in England, Wales, and Scotland disposed of nearly 2J mil ion acres. SCIENCE ON TJTE FARM.

The new owners had to pay for their land. They felt also the pride of ownership. For profit and appearance they put their best efforts into their industry. Wherever any raving could he effected or production increased they bent their energies. Subsequent lean years enforced on them even more strongly the need ol thrift. In economical endeavour science has bellied them. Science learned a great deal from the vital needs ot the war. There is not. one of onr research stations that to-dav is not concerned with means of saving time and labour while rendering more productive the common work of the farm.

On their part the farmers, who, generally s|>eakiiig, long neglected science, are turning to it increasingly to aid them. Arodern knowledge on the feeding of tlie soil, on feeding stock for milk and meat, on the value of pedigree seeds of cereals, roots, and fodder grasses, on the advantage of pedigree animals for breeding, and on many other important matters is -being put in practice now to an exetnt far greater than before the war..*' Agricultural machinery also shows a notable advance. Doubtless the in-

tense work of inventors and manufacturers when means of overcoming the enemy were the first need ■ have had their reflex in post-war efforts to help an agriculture which must save the Inst penny and get the last ounce of produce from its toil. The implement yards at our agricultural shows have never before seen so many and ingenious inventions for economy of time and labour. THE OXIS PROBLEM.

The post-war period has been marked by significant changes of method in other directions. One is the keeping of hooks by farmers. The practice is extending, and appears to lie essential in the circumstances in which agriculture now finds itself. Another is the striking increase in the number of dairy farmers who now record the individual milk yield of their cows in order that the may he able to detect and rid their herds of unprofitable animals. Strict economy demands that this should lie done.

The Spread of the fashion of keeping pigs at railge is another outcome ol the iieed of saving labour, l’igs at range require automatic feeders, and inany and ingenious have been the devices placed at. the farmer’s disposal in the past few years, culminating.in a feeder that will also ration the animal. Of Olio other problem, however, neither the State nor the farmer has yet discovered the solution. It is how to reconcile two great national needs—to keep the land in cull ivat ion and give the people cheap food.