HARD TIMES AND A FARMING LIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 287, 4 August 1888, Page 3

HARD TIMES AND A FARMING LIFE.

The cry of " hard times " is now so often repeated by farmers they many time* quite forget to complain about the weather. It is a sad pity this should become a fixed habit, for even it' true in some respects this lament of " hard times," varied by the threadbare remark that " farming don't pay," is unmanly in the soeaker and disheartening to the listeners, especially to the young people. I often think this doleful way of talking about our noble profession, which has become a habit with many farmers, has much to do with the almost universal di=like for farming work felt by the young people who are reaied on farms, and who in the natural cour&e of events ought to be the next generation of New Zealand farmers. These young folks have been receiving a very liberal education, much better than many of then parents ever enjoyed. They have at command the experience gained by the early settlers, and being born on the land they are familiar with its productions, and in a measure they know its capabilities. They have the advantage of much knowledge that wo first settleis had to acquire in the sharp school of experience; indeed, many of us were reared in the cities and large towns ot Europe, and trained to other pursuits than farming. It is not, therefore, very surprising that some of us have achieved but moderate success. The hope of this country is — or should be — in her sons and daughters, but 1 regret to find, no matter where I go, that very few are taking hold of the soil with that cheerful earnestness which assures success. The boys want to get away to the towns, to be lawyers, doctors, drapers, sharebroker*, carpenters, auctioneers, etc., etc , anything but farmers. "Farming don't pay" they say; "Pa says so, too." They don't like farm work, and they " won t be farmers, so there now !" When I have a quiet chat with farmers' daughters, I find too often a nimilar state of mind. The work is too hard, farmers' wives are slaves, farming don't pay ; no, they will never marry a farmer. They want to be milliners, or "school manns," music teachers, governesses, or ladies' companions, etc. They may be willing to marry a shopkeeper, mechanic, clerk, cabdriver, or a policeman, but a small farmer, " oh no, no —never !" It is Very sad to find so many of our country youth in such a frame of mind, but ib is too true, I am sorry to say. I know quite well that there are thousands of acres of poor land here stiff and steep. Let so:ne future generation battle with it. There are also many thousands of acres of fertile land yet unoccupied, a dry and kindly soil, where the bright sun shines and the gentle rain falls ; a climate healthy and pleasant to man and beast, where everything combines to insure a liberal reward to him who labours honestly. But no, they will have none of ib. These highly educated youngsters have souls abovo a plough or a milking stool, and turn their backs disdainfully on the country, setting their faces townwards ; while hundreds more, without one spark of patriotism for the land of their birth, sail away to other lands. This unpabriobic exodus of bhat portion of our native-born population which should form the next' generation of agriculturists, to me seems a serious matter, and one that ought to be investigated. Who or what is to blame ? There must be a fault somewhere. Our costly public schools have so far

failed lamentably in making agriculturist.? of young Now Zealanders. There seems to be no attempb to impart any special instrucrion, either theory or practice, even in country schools, where forming is supposed to be the life-work of most of the scholars. In many cases the parents noglect to provide such innocent and inexpensive pleasures as make country life attractive. All work ami no play is not good. Music helps to make evenings pleasant : cricket, shooting, fishing, anything almost is good e.\c pt i hat colonial curse of horse-racing. There should be lots of useful and enter tnining books and papers,. Tine Fakmkk should be in every farmer's home in this colony, for the boy who reads ir every month must be dull indeed if he fails to catch a spark of enthusiasm for keeping poultry or bees, lor growing flowers or fruit, something good he can eat or sell, or which is beautiful to look upon. Fathers should try to get the boys interested in their work. By all means ■start them in fruit growing. Lots of fruit all the year would be a wonderful help towards keeping the Hoys at home. Show them that farming does pay, or by their help can be made to pay, and that " hard times " is but the whine ot beggar*, it is an expression no farmer should use, nor admit tho condition it implies. Let me relate a true incident to illustrate my meaning. A few days since a number of farmers' wives happened to m et. At every turn or opening in the conversation Mrs D. struck in •' hard time-." This occurred so oi t on that Mrs C. inquired what was tho matter. Why wa« she complaining? Mis J)., after a little thought, replied, " Well, as for' myself I must confess I never was so well off in my life a.-, I am now ; but I hear others talking about hard time so much I do the same without thinking why I do it." It would be a good thing ior u.s to change our mode of expression. VYe growl at the weather; we complain about birds and rabbit*; and caterpillars: we groan o\er light crop* and low prices, and we stand in public places and cry. " Hard times '" " Farming don't pay '" And then we wonder why it is that the boys dislike farm work, and why it is that men in overcrow ded lands don't come and settle on land around us. Surely the man who owns a fewaciesof good soil with a comfortable home on it — even a whave or a log hut — and free from all debts, should be the last man in the colony to cry '* hard time." I cannot think of any other position so safe and secure. His bread is sure, and water will not fail ; no. neither will milk and honey, nor bacon and eggs nor butter and cheese, nor potatoes or fruit. All thc*>e good things he can have in plenty. If price? are low, or even if he cannot «ell some of his produce at all, why, let him eat and bo happy. Our mild climate makes costly buildings unnecessary for stock or tor ourselves either ; an expensive house is not abso utely necessary for comfort or happiness ; the soil will produce an abundance of good food, fiesh vegetables and fruit ; from the profusion in summer, tho prudent wife will fill her storo-nom with good things, such as jams, iellics, fruit dried or preserved, pickle* and mushroom ketchup ; and in the darkest corner you may find perhaps a keg of vinegar and a cask of good fruit wine. How about sugar? you ask. Not an ounce need be bought. Honey will supply its place perfectly. I know quite well that even with all these good things some money is required to pay rates and to buy clothing, etc. But a small sum will suffice for these purposes, and can be obtained by selling surplus stock or produce, or by selling kauri gum, or splitting and selling timber, or by working for wages for afew week^or months in theyear. Butif a man labours honestly and intelligen tly he will find no difficulty in producing all he needs on his own farm — food and clothing, or the money to buy such thing's as he needs and cannot produce. And who on earth should be happier than a man with all his wants supplied ? The necessary conditions for this happy position are : l&t. A few acres of good kindly soil. 2nd. It must be free from any incumberence, a genuine freehold. 3rd. He must make a rule, and keep io very strictly, to owe no man anything, yea moie, he must strive not to want a thing unt 1 he has the means to buy it. 4th. He should have alove for domesticated animals, then he will find pleasure in caring for them, and they will be to him profitable and faithful servants. sth. He should be able to find pleasuie in seeing things grow from the germination of the . fc eed to time of blossoming, and po on to mature fruit. He should also learn the fertilisation of flowers, and prove how good are the laws of nature and how he can bend them, as it were, to his own will and u*e. In learning the wonderful laws of nature and watching the great mystei ies which surround him his labour will be pleasant to him, and he can, if he tries, and wants to, seem to get very near to the (Jrcab Lawgiver, and he will be blessed and hnd peace on earth and goodw ill toward? all men. I firmly believe that there is no other occupation or position on earth that holds out greater possibilities tor a happy life than does that of a cultivator of the soil who fulfils thesimple conditions above described, for it is pre-eminently a natural life. Please do not think it j-isb a fancy. I know -or think I know — what I am writing about from personal experience. I have lived many years of my life in laige towns, employed in business. I also spent a number of years in mining for gold, and I must say that the life of a gold seeker offers the least happiness and is tho most unnatural life I can imagine. And now I have had about twenty years' experience as a New Zealand fanner, and I am content and proud of my position in life, nor would I change it for tho throne of any king on earth. Two figures toll the number of acres in my little freehold, yet I am a rich man ; nob in the possession of great wealth, bub because of having so few wants left unsupplied. '* Ido nob say this in a boastful spirit. I believe there are in this fair land many hundreds of successful, contented settlers, happy, industrious, silent and unknown The time has now come when I think some of these should speak out for the encouragement of the faint-hearted ones, show how to farm with profit by producing first-class or "gilt edge" produce; how to grow such things as are wanted and sell readily, instead of those nob wanted ; in short, to show how farming doa }>ay, and to vindicate the honour of our ancient calling, and to clear away tho senseless abuse hoapud on it by efli min ate followers. In the ranks of the silent successful ot.es, are many learned and skilful men, well able to instruct and encourage bhe feeble and weak-kneed ones. There is the medium, and now is the bime to spoak. Show us that farming will pay, and does pay, and put to shame those who stand in the highway, with tho hands hanging: down, crying "Hard times!" "Farming don't pay !" degrading and belittling their calling and social position, depreciating the value of their own properties, frightening the country's youth away to other lands, and scaring ofF the tide of immigration that would help us. Lot us change this dirge for songs of hope and courage, and cheerfulness ; let us show bhe world we can pay our way and hold up our heads as honest men, as sons and daughters of Britain should do. J.W. Waipa.