Experimental Gaiden, Edinburgh, 6th December, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 551, 13 November 1850, Page 3

Experimental Gaiden, Edinburgh, 6th December, 1849.

Report on Seedling Potatoes raised in the Experimental Garden, Edinburgh, 1849 — Read at the General Meeting, 6th December, 1849. In accordance with instructions received from Council, I beg to submit the following Report on seedling potatoes raised in the Society's Garden this year from seeds saved in New Zealand, and transmitted to the Society by Government. The seed was sown in seed pans on the sth April, and placed in a warm frame where it soon germinated, the young plants were afterwards placed round the edges oi pots, and set in a cool frame where they remained until the middle of June, when they were pbnted in the Culinarium, in rows eighteen inches apart, and above eight inches from plant to plant. The plants received no attention beyond that given to similar crops, i.e., earthing up and keeping free from weeds, until the end of August, whpn they had grown so much as to render it necessary to remove every alternate row, this leaving the remaining rows three feet apart; at this period scarcely any tubers had been formed, but the plants were very vigorous, and bad emitted great numbers of underground stems or runners which were carefully earthed over. On the 26th Sept — while the leaves were perfectly green and healthy in appearance — the stems of every other row were cut close to the ground, care being taken not to disturb the roots. In this situation they remained until the stems of those left were destroyed by frost in the early part of October. On the 10th Oct. the whole weTe lifted (with the exception of one row, which has been earthed over and left in the ground) when the following results were obtained, viz. Two rows each 45 feet length with stems cut, yielded above three pecks of potatoes, varying in size from that of a garden bean to a hen's egg; from one iow nine diseased tubers were picked while the rest were quite sound. Two rows of same length, and fiom which the stems j had not been removed, produced 3§ pecks, tubers mostly of larger size than the otheis ; from one of these rows three diseased tubers were taken, and eight from the other; all the rest healthy. The potatoes were all of a white colour, a few having pink eyes ; they exhibited considerable diversity of form, some being round and others kidney shaped. The largest weighed 4£ ounces, and I ha\e no doubt, had the weather continued open fora week or two longer, they would have been much larger and an abundant crop. (Signed) W. W. Evans, Superintendent. The Council have directed that these potatoes be continued under trial in the Society's Experimental Garden. Robt. Neill, Secretary.

We have given an account below of the proceedings taken against squatters by the Resident Agent, who — after considerable difficulty, we should think. — has found and marked his fir&t victim. Mind, we do not

vindicate squatting as a general principle ; but we speak thus strongly because we object, in toto, to the spirit of opposition develope I iii these proceedings against the labouring class. If they alone were squatters, they alone would be the sufferers if the Ordinance were put in force. But there was no want of examples of a higher grade, had the Agent been inclined to shoot his arrows at them. However, perhaps be remembered that some insects can sting their tormentors, whilst others may be trod upon with impunity, Now, we would fain ask a single question : if the labouring class, or that portion who have no regular employment, are not entitled Jo squat upon the reserves, who will have a right to remain on public land from this time forth ? And if a regular clearance is not to be made, on what grounds, except partiality, can the Resident Agent justify himself in granting a right to any one ? If exceptions are to Le made in favour of those "men who came into the colony with Urge families when land wa9 scarce," let it be to them alone, and extend it to the same class now, if they can show proof that they are not in a position to rent land ; receiving from them in return for this privilege a written paper, stating their willingness to move away within a reasonable time after having a notice served upon them, should the land be wanted for other purposes. But, no, our modern Sh lock is determined to have his " bond" fulfilled, and bis first "pound of flesh" must be cut out of the labourer. "The law must take its course," and the man who left his home with the promise of receiving a cottage and pasturage for a cow on his arrival here, must content himself with paying £4 per year for a quarter acre of land, and something like 14s. or more for a cord of firewood ! Now, on a moderate calculation, a cord of firewood will last the labouring man three weeks in winter; and supposing that the price keeps as low as 145., it makes that item in domestic economy amount to 4s. Bd. a-week. Is it likely that the labourer can pay such a sum of money weekly from his "u regular earnings 1 Is it not a fact, that at the present time, one-third of our labouring population can scarcely pay for the necessaries of life, without compelling them to pay for firewood ? Yet, in spile of this, a I prohibition has gone forth worded expressly so as to fall heaviest on the poorer class, and to advantage two or three proprietors and boldI ers of suburban sections near the town, who will thus have the supplying of Dunedin with fi enood almost entirely in their own hands. Fellow-labourers, ye are prove; bially a slow-moving race patient and slow to resent ; but if ye would combine together, and with one heart calmly sit down and examine into the causes now warring against you, the knowledge ye would thus gain would end, when properly put in practice and duly enforced, in the acknowledgment of every claim founded on justice and humanity. Ye do not want to damage the fair face of nature ; but ye w&nt to live, and ye claim a small portion of the wilderness as your just "waif" for the inheritance which was promised you when j>ixleen thousand miles away. Jf we durst venture an opinion as to what the labourer must do who can't pay for renting a piece of land, or for burning 4s. Bd. worth of firewood in a week, we should say, so long as larger houses and higher personages sit secure on tl c reserves, so long tear not ; cut firewood for your daily use at the most convenient place, and stick your temporary buildings on any part of the reserve that pleases your fancy. Better times and a more even distribution of the law must come. That is ihe opinion we sboul ! have given, had we been asked ; but as we were not, we give it without. — Otago Neai, Oct. sth. vVe have received for insertion an advertisement for a public meeting of the workingclasses, which will be found in another place. Whether it is the result of much care and thought on the part of that section of the labouring classes that really find it a difficult thing to obtain an honest livelihood, or merely the hasty concoction of a carpless idle few, we cannot fairly judge. The late measures, and, indeed, we may say every measure that has been taken by those in authority has been on the principle so barefacedly advanced at the commencement of the settlement — that of keeping the labourer down. That this spirit is still at work is evident from the following: — A labourer wanted to purchase a section of land, promising to pay one-third, or neatly, of the value then and there, and to pay the rest by yearly instalments, with interest ; a plan adopted and followed by Captain Cargill in several instances. But the answer was to the effect that labourers would in time become independent, if they thus became land proprie tors, and when there came a demand for labour there would be none in the market ! Now, if this is not sufficient to cause a gene'al emigration of those possessing the means, v/e do not know what is. And, unwillingly ;i we would advocate a measure so full of uncertainty, trouble, and expense to the labourer, and one which wouid biiag such a lasting

stigma upon Oiago, we would give them our cordial wishes for success, and pray for favoring winds to waft 'the pa-sengers on their way to the destined haven. Bat, ray dear friends, hurry not. " The longest day hath an end," and the breaking light will shine at last. You will not always be ruled with a rod of iron ; other rulers may rule over you who hold firm the faith that the prosperity of the working man must go on with theprosperity of the settlement. Without capital, without enterprise in our population, it is natural for you to look at your present lot with despairing eyes : but keep your vision more on the future, and as you add the little knowledge you possess togethei, you will see that in reality this country is a legacy for the poor man, and that it is for yon to possess, and for the enjoyment of your children after you. In what country besides could you have a reward so promising ? Not in Australia — not in Van Diemen's Land — not at the Cape. In New Zealand, if die labourer will combine patience with perseverance, steadiness with caution, he will attain independence, if God spare him health and strength ; and to New Zealand, therefore, we advise the labourer to stick. — ■ Ibid, Oct. 12th.