THE OLD FARMERS AND THE NEW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 2 September 1907, Page 4

THE OLD FARMERS AND THE NEW.

The healthiest feature in connection j with the increase iu closer settlement inj this country (says the Sydney Morning Herald) is the desire to gain a thorough knowledge of live stock and agriculture evinced by the young Australians who are following in the footsteps of their settler fathers, or are going on the land as a new undertaking. Barring a considerable degree of familiarity with pedigrees of thoroughbreds and a good idea of what was muffled in a saddle horse, the average "cornstalk" of earlier days boasted no special education in the practical science of stock-breeding or that , f raising products from the soil. In respect to the latter, he usually adopted a most contemptuous attitude, and was disposed to boast that lie knew nothing of "cockatooing," which was the designation commonly applied to farming.; lust why the word "cockatoo" was fastsned to the first of ihe selectors is di/li:ult to ascertain, but in all probability t was bestowed upon tliem because their jfforts to break hard, dry land with wry inadequate implements resembled n some degree the scratching habits of i mischievous bundle of feathers adorned vith a yellow topknot. If this supposi,iou be corretft, it can hardly be con,ended that there was 110 justification 'or the simile. Trobably the world couid iave produced a more backward lot of igriculturists than those of New South Vales, but it certainly would have ben liflicult to discover a more slipshod, asy-going class. Very long strides have ieen made in the course of twenty years, >ut there still exist remnants of the old lersonally lovable type of "cockatoo" rho was satisfied to "keep on scratching he surface of crop-exhausted land with ntiquated implements. The world iwung slowly in the early days of farmug here. The passing' stranger was as relcouic to a few hours of the farmer a ime in which to spin a yarn as to a hare of his bed and board. Traces of he easy-going habit of mind are fouud lowadays in the ease with which smart :ity people succeeded in securing the lassive support of farmers to oppose imiroved methods of marketing produce vhich do not fall in line with trade in .erests. On a fertile coast-line* whHi utfers from short but severe droughts, Luring which a reserve of fodder would le literally a golden store, silos are aiiost unknown, and only in isolated cases .re attempts made to improve and mainain pasture land at its proper standard >f productiveness. Although the area ultivatcd and production from the soil iave been more than doubled since the vheat farmers from other States secured he cheap lands of the inland country ;nd showed the way, there has been no ncrease worth recording in the oldest liatriets, where the produce of the dairy arms could be immensely increased by he raising of fodder crops. The most avoured districts of the State have l>een raiting for the arrival of a new kind if settler, an eager seeker for knowsdge, and a hustler who never has time 0 cut five out of a possible twenty ounds with the plough by engaging in m interesting '•''pitch" with his neighlour or the chap who happens aloig ooking for horses which have escaped hrough a tumble-down dog-leg fence.: Ipon the new generation of settlers defends development on the lines of sound iractice; therefore it is encouraging to ind that there is an evident desire to earn, and agricultural education is in he air. It is frequently said that necesity is the parent of good farming, whidi nay' be taken to mean that when a man ails by bad methods he will turn to ounder means of working land. The uaxim, unfortunately, irbut partly true, 'ixed habits are so tenacious that tlioy requently last aT long as the man, and, adeed, the average settler finds it more lifiieult to unlearn"the old"than to aeluire the new. It may be hoped that he many young fellows who are beginting now will first of all learn that the ecret of progress lies in doing cveryhing on the farm as well as circuxntances will permit, and in keeping tiie cry best of stock that their means will ncompass. Depend upon it, it pays beter to keep one good animal than to eed two that are inferior. It is better 0 be understocked with healthy, wellired animals, which will show proper irofits on what they consume, than to e fully stocked with cheap stuff—stuff ■hieh "never seems to furnish anything lat will top a marEfet.