Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 163, 22 December 1847, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir,— The interest you take in the progreis and advancement of all the New Zealand settlements, will, I trust, lead to the iniertion, in your taluable paper, of the following remarks on a tubject of considerable importance. In Mr. Grimitone'i work, " The Southern Settlementi of New-Eettand," at page 52, there U a table professing to shew the average yield of the cropa in each settlement, for 1846: Wellington and New Plymouth ai they are contrasted—

Here, the harvest of 1846 was very deficient, and in taking the yield for Ne« Plymouth as above, an ex cellent guess hat been made for everything except potatoes, which ihould be increaied about three toni per acre. I think that Mr. Grimstone has been less fortunate for Wellington. Forty bushels of whest, per acre, ii leldoni, perhaps never, obtained at the average yield of a whole district, even in the finest parti of England or America : Mr. Grimstone gays that the average yield at Wellington in 1845 and 1846 w« «40 busheli, in 1844,-45 buibeli per acre." About two months before tbe harveit of 1845, I was particularly struck with the appearance of the grain crops around Wellington, especially at Karori. I ihould not have gueised the average of anyth.ng at more than 20 bushels per acre ; and although it is easy to imagine that finer crops would be produced in the Hutt Valley, a more fertile spot ; yet, if any portion of the diltrict fell off to 20 bushels, the crop* on iome other parts must have been truly prodigious. It would pemaps, however, be improper to question the accuracy of Mr. Grimstone's figures from anjthing I «aw ; and "40 and 45 buiheli per acre" at (heaverage yield of the whole district, might not hare excited more doubt than admiration, except for a letter which appeared in the Wellington Independent of the 16th ult. :— the Author appears to be a Settler, conversant with the subject on which he writes ; and he states that— "2o bushels and not 80, (as once expected,) 1 ' is the avenge yield of *n acre of wheat round Wellington. . A table, profeiiing to show the comparative yield ofi cropi in the different settlements, should also show the 1 comparative cost of producing them. - - Nearly the whole of the " 495 acres of wheat grown at Wellington in 1846," wa« timber land, which cannot be cleared and cropped effectually for less than £10 per tore ; whereas nearly the whole of the •• 839 acres grown at Taranaki," was fern land, which can be clear* ed and cropped in the best style for £4 lw per acre ; and even this cost will be materially reduced, when cattle cease to be nearly 100 per cent dearer here, than in other settlements. As farming becomes butter understood and reduced more to a system, I think there is no doubt that tbe t fe|n lands ef this district will yield an average of SO bushels of wheat per acre. The heaviest crop that has yet been obtained on any large piece, (of course without manure,) was 488 bushels from 8 acres-"56 bushels per acre; and this season at Glanavon, (the Messrs., Davy's,) there ii a field of 20 acres which promises 50 bußhels per acre. So little timber land his been cultivated that it would be premature, as yet, to express a very decided opinion as to the extent of its powers: the crops have been heavier than on fern land, though not generally so fine in quality. I hare heard, that a labourer hai grown nearly 64 bushels on an acre, and know, that potatoes yield from 12 to 16 tons. However great may be the advantages of Wellington, it is undoubtedly true, that owing to the heavy limber and rugged character of the country around, rendering cultivation a work of hand labour ; agricultural produce can never be raised so cheap there, as it will eventually be supplied from the fertile plains of Taranaki. I ami Sir, very respectfully, yours, CHAS. HURSTHOUSE. New Plymouth, Dec 6th, 1847.

To the Editor of the New Zeatander. Sir,— Ai the Pensioners, moitj of them with largo families, are vow in a manner settled at their respective settlements, would it not be essentially uecesiary for the education of their children to be attended to ? In order to, do so, if the Government were to appoint civilian schoolmasters, the pensioners would in my opinion bt very much benefited threby, for. " what is & mm without learning ?" I am. sir, your most obedient, humble servant, ' <• ONE OF THE RED." Auckland, 20th Dec, 1847.

Wellington, r ew Plymouth, •s"V Wheat 40 25 t. ] Barley. 35 25 . Oats. Ton 52 30 ni Pota 10 5

Produce per Acre.