T. K. DOW ON FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Patea Mail, 14 April 1881, Page 4

T. K. DOW ON FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Mr T. K. Dow the agricultural reporter of the Melbourne Age, now on a tour of inspection and enquiry in New Zealand, who lectured in Christchurch, after speaking at length on Australian farming, said with reference to the colony :—“ Coming to New Zealand, what I have to say in favor of the colony will have the advantage of being the opinion of one who is not a New Zealander, but a Victorian, and one who is proud of being a Victorian. The impression made upon me during my more than two months’ tour in the colony is of the most favourable character. lam surprised at the productiveness of the soil, the high yields of grain, and the luxuriance of the artificial grasses and root crops. Your average of crop is double that of some parts of Australia and three times that of other parts. This alone would be an immense advantage; but the value of the root crops and artificial grasses is of even more importance. The system of farming adopted, like that of all new countries, is no doubt defective from a scientific point of view, but it is on the whole better and less exhaustive than that of Australia, the climate admitting of a better rotation and more frequent resting in pasture. We have seen how South Australia is benefitted by having its agricultural lands near to the sea-board. This is a point in regard to which New Zealand is fortunately situated. There is such an extensive coast line, that no part of the land is more than 100 miles from the sea. This, when farm produce is concerned, is an almost incalcuable benefit. The wheat lands of America are from 1000 to 1500 miles inland, which more than counterbalances the shortness of the voyage across the Atlantic. With a greatly higher yield than America, and almost double the averageyield, thecolony should not fear American competition, while in comparison with England, New Zealand has all the productiveness without the drawbacks of climate, involving the loss of harvests, and necessitating the expenditure of housing and attending to stock. No country in the world has so many natural advantages as New Zealand for becoming an exporter of farm produce, and farming must in future be carried on with a view to an export trade. Action will be necessary, however, to take advantage of these favorable circumstances. The State must run the railways in a manner to develop agriculture. If a high rate of freight is charged on farm produce, it will not be grown, and the railways will not pay ; but if the products of the soil are carried at a cheap rate, the farmers will have money to spend in employing the railways. If the lowest Australian or New Zealand rates were charged in America, it would cost from 3s 6d to 5s per bushel to carry wheat from Chicago to New York; but the lines are worked upon business principles, and wheat is carried over the 1100 miles from Chicago to New York, for 3d per bushel. Our railways must carry farm produce at whatever rate the farmer can afford to give, and the sooner the Governments of the colonies learn this lesson, the better for all concerned. The merchants, or middlemen, have a duty to perform also. They must be content with moderate commissions, and they should find the best markets for outproduce. Adelaide farmers have been getting from 2d to 3d per bushel more for their wheat this year than Melbourne farmers, owing, I believe, to the fact that a long experience in the exporting business has given superior knowledge to the South Australian shippers. Such is the important duty which the mercantile class has to perform with regard to agriculture. The duties of the farmers themselves are too numerous to mention, but I may refer to the dairying industry. It is necessary, in order to establish an export trade in dairy produce, that large quantities of butter and cheese of an even or equal sample should be available, and in order to meet this demand cheese and butter factories should be established. In the working of factories there is a great saving of labor, and, what is of greater importance, an even sample is produced. The climate of New Zealand is eminently suited for dairying, and being at the antipodes, our produce could be landed in England in the dear season. The freezing process will, no doubt, be a great benefit, through relieving the meat market, but if we establish factories and send fresh butter to England, it may in this way bo a source of even greater wealth to the colonies. With rich soil, a genial climate, and other natural advantages, it only requires intelligent enterprise on the part of the people to make New Zealand a great and prosperous country.”