THE FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 126, 19 May 1908, Page 4

THE FARM.

I While on the question of land cultivation. it i„ interesting to mention thai .-team ploughing is rapidly coming into vogue in Canterbury, the level surface "t (lie country being in every wav adapted tor tlie successful carrying on «t the operation. In the As'hburton this year l£ traction-engine ploughing plants will by shortly operating in full swing, and the large tract of land that was broken up in this way last year gave the fullest satisfaction to the farmer* ami contractors. In any ordinary sized paddock a steam-ploughing plant of nine furrow,, inn easily accomplish IS to '2O nei-e, per day. With the comparative ,eareity I of

liol-c feed llii, year ploughing by aid 01 steam is likely l• > become more popular in tlii" future. ( ocksloot seed i«, in >[i - ()n<r demand, and stocks arc comparatively low. Intelligent men see that the prosperity of New Zealand is almost wholly bound up with the agricultural industry am' tin- settlement of a large population on our lauds. JJut for years (-ays "Drover ■ in tin? Otago Witness) I In* bulk of our members. of Parliament haw laiicd lo gra-;p linn fact, and have grudged vote?. lor the Agricultural Depailnn'iiL Canadian on the oilmt hand. have adyd differently, and thv Minister of Agriculture in Canada lias always got what vole* of nioiiuv ho asked for from Paliiauu-nt. no matter "hi'll political-party ua H in power. Ihc South Australian tJovernment i-« preparing to carry out further dry farming experiments during the coining season. At Hammond and on the River Murray at Loxton the farmers did not give the Department much encouragelnent. for although several were approached, they declined (n undertake the work involved. It is intended that the Campbell, system will be given a thorough trial during the ne.xt few years. A iarmer at Sailer',, Springs in the same State obtained good results last season hy seieiitilic treatment of his land. With the nid of ;i lil»eral n])pllcation of *uperpho:*pluil e< nnd hard work his IDOII aero n averaged bushels. One paddock of Mi) aere-i g ; ivo a return at the rate of .**»(> lm.-heU. The October rains were, of course. timely. but even with that as*i>laii(< i the. liarve-t was excellent.