A HINT TO FARMERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4249, 2 November 1874, Page 3

A HINT TO FARMERS.

' (From the Wanganui Chronicle.) In a district so well adapted in all respects as Wanganui is for agricultural pursuits it is a matter of regret to note that the cargo of every vessel that enters our port consists, more or less, of agricultural produce, brought not only from the neighboring colonies, but also from numerous towns and districts in New Zealand of far less importance, both as to mercantile advancement, and suitability for agriculture. This state of things is due principally, no doubt, to the interest taken by our fanners and runholdera in the rearing of first-class stock, which in itself is very commendable and praiseworthy, for every district must ultimately benefit where care is taken, and discretion used in the introduction of well-bred stock ; but while the keeping up of the breed of sheep and cattle not only satisfies, but in highly remunerative to the large landholder, the neglect of the soil is ruinous to the small fanner, and must necessarily be severely felt bv the whole district. For the future prosperity of this place we must look to the soil; a spirit of emulation amongst our fanners in the production of all kinds of crops is most assuredly required, and that only, for certainly the prices that have hitherto ruled here are sufficiently tempting to induce the agriculturist to till his farm, without the least likelihood of loss in the undertaking. We certainly have heretofore had in the annual production of crops, except perhaps this last year, nearly enough for our own wants, that is, of potatoes, oats, &e., but we have never through the abundance of our own supplies been able to hold out against the importations even of these. Now, in a district blessed as ours is with every advantage of soil and climate, the importation of agricultural produce should be out of the question altogether, and our farmers ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves for allowing such a state of things to come about. They are themselves perhaps the greatest sufferers, but' they have their own shortsightedness to blame, for the fanner and runholder feel the scarcity of oats and potatoes as much as does the merchant, in not preventing the dearth of produce which, had thoy wisely looked forward, they must have seen was inevitable.