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Southland Times, Issue 909, 2 March 1868, Page 2

The long continued, unusually inclement, and unsettled state of the weather, in itsinfluence on the quantity and quality of the crops to be gathered in (and especially the cereals), as well as in the retardingoftheprocess of harvesting, tends to render the prospect of the incoming supply — as to bulk and condition — rather discouraging to those who are depending for a livelihood wholly on the success of their agricultural operations. The harvest, ifc is to be feared, will prove deficient, and for the supply of our wants during the next year we shall have to depend to a greater extent than formerly on our neighbors. There is, however, no apparent evil of a providential character, without its co' respondent advantage, and in this particular instance, the seeming calamity of the present, may not only bo ultimately found leas disastrous than is at first contemplated, but may actually prove of great advantage, by causing an alteration in system, as well as an exten-

don of the range of operations, thereby rendering us less de^endeut upon the success of any particular branch. The somparatively large importations of stock into the Province, in whatever light newed, must be regarded as bearing very largely on its material interests. The fact that these importations have been continued over so long a period, without at present any pro3pect of their cessation, proves that, to the parties concerned in them as adventures, they have been found remunerative, and suggests the desirability of our retaining this profit amongst ourselves. For every beast imported into the Province, the community has had to pay several pounds for freight, which may be regarded as so much dead loss to ourselves, and argues the necessity of as speedily as possible placing ourselves beyond the necessity of continuing to import. As regards the more recent of these importations, the nature of the sales which have been made proves that the stock has not been needed to supply the wants of the large runholders, but of the increasing class of small settlers. A double present advantage has thus been gained, namely, the improvement of the breed, and the permanent stocking of the province. The safest and most reliable of our resources is the judicious combination of pastoral and agricultural pursuits, and of this, a season like that through which we are now passing, will do much to convince those of our settlers who have hitherto mainly depended upon the latter. The present high price of butchers meat is explained by the butchers themselves as resulting from the long distances tc which they have to travel to procure s supply, and the consequent risk, labor and expense, attendant thereon. To this also is added the necessity under preseni circumstances, of purchasing more largely than they would have to do if stock could be obtained of suitable quality as required, nearer home. There is nc doubt but that this latter reason operates very materially to the prejudice of tht community, by confining the trade and preventing the carrying on profitably oi a small business. As compared with thai paid in other provinces not more favorablj circumstanced than ourselves for its production, the price paid here for meat is greatly in excess ; but where the " lion's share" of the profit rests, we do not attempt to determine. "We have, adduced these reasons to stimulate the rearing oJ cattle among our small settlers, and as being a branch of industry which requires but little beyond ordinary care in the carrying out, and of which the risk is small, while the market is certain, and the profit upon the outlay equal at leasi to that which may be obtained in othei branches of business, and which has moreover the advantage that it may be carried on independently of external influence and almost without expense. In the case of small holders, with a proper division of the land into paddocks, laid down in English grasses, sheep farming, as in the old country, might be carried on profit- [ ably and made to form a valuable adjunct to an agricultural farm. Until the advantages connected with a combination of several pursuits are fully realised and acted upon, the recurrence of unfavorable seasons will be found to press heavily, and in some instances to occasion total ruin, while, on the other hand, combination has at least the advantage that the. loss of one may be, and is, in most cases, counterbalanced by the gain of the other. To expect uniform successs is unreasonable, and although the present season argues unfavorably, yet there is nothing in it positively to dishearten, and a great purpose will have been served to the i cause of agricultnre generally if its followers shall have been taught by it to avail themselves of every available means to overcome difficulties not of their own creating. That there are many available means beside those we have hinted at, will be obvious to every one who reads this, and experience will teach that in following agriculture as a pursuit, there are certain productions to which the climate is specially adapted, and attention must be directed to them. The growth of barley for malting purposes has yet received little or no attention. The demand for it at home, as well as an article of export, is considerable, and the price realized less liable to fluctuation than that of most other grain. The liberal use of appliances for the saving of manual labor must be had recourse to, and the reduction of expenses to the lowest point i consistent with sound economy. These principles recognized, and steadily kept in view, will in the 1 round of seasons result in success.