The Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant La verzte. FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1883. THE GOVERNMENT AID THE AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 186, 13 July 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant La verzte. FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1883. THE GOVERNMENT AID THE AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

The editor of the columns m the Auck land Herald devoted to farming matters, makes tutne very sensible and i>ractical suggestions with reference to the necessity for the excension of Gove nment aid to agricultural societies. He begins by admitting that the proposal to have a Government Department >f Agriculture, and a Minister at the head of it, is some slieht recognition ofihe importance of agricultural interests m this colony. But he contends ihat. the matter should not stop therej With him we agree that it would be well if our Government would take a leaf out of the Australian book. Last year the Victorian Parliament granted £12,000 m aid of agricultural societies, that amount being divided amongst upwards of fifty of these useful associations, the highest grant being £1100 to one society, the lowest being ,£52 ; the average to each being about £220 ; while m (New South Wales this year, m the ways and moans provided by the Colonial Treasurer, £10,000 appeared upon the list for the purpose of aiding i-iricu'r.ura' societies. Now, while m the North Island the number of these societies is not very largej still a little sympathy and monetary aid from Government might have a tendency to infuse more lib into them, at the snme time giving an impulse m the direction of new societies bein< inaugurated, or old ones resuscitated. As a rule, the principal work of agricultural sosieties appears to be the holding of an annual show ; but they might be of great service to farming interests if they would also take up other matters, which they conld do if aid from Government were forthcoming. For instance, if farmers' dubs or agricultural associations were established m the various ceutres of the rural population! they might have useful agricultural libraries, and subscribe

;i; soino oi' tlio periodicals that are pub lisho'l m connection wirh their particular avocation. They would be nble 10 determine what was the best and most profitable method of farming m their own localities, what crops should be grown, and what kind of stock kept. 1 1 would be possible, too, for such socieles to have have at Uncial manures nalysec. They might also go m for xeperiinenting with manure?. A field of enquiry would be open for them it reference to the diseases of stock or of plants, such as fluke or scab m sheep, or ruEt m wheat; and they might easily, by combination, introduce new varieties of cereals, roots, vegetables, or other plants, as well as report upon any new agricultural implement. That these societies are urgently required, and have before them "wide spheres of usefulness, who will question? And, therefore, they are well worthy of a little Govern* ment aid. This is an oppurtune timei while the Assembly is sitting, for some of the country members who take a deep interest m the progress of agriculture to call attention to this subject. If possible they should get such a snm of money placed upon the estimates as would be sufficient to aid m some degree the various agricultural societies throughout the country.