CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 74, 18 September 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE TERROR OF XATURE. There is no horror like the horror of a catastrophe caused by elemental natural disturbances, because man is reduced to the condition of the merest worm in the presence of the earthquake, the cyclone, the tidal wave, or the volcanic eruption. The cable ticks out that Etna is in eruption and is " a magnificent spectacle." The point of view is curious. Wo in Taranaki can faintly imagine what might happen to Taranaki if Mt. Egniont woke from the sleep of ages and belched molten lava on farm j and town. One feels that the "grandeur" of the spectacle would not appeal to the fleeing settlers. The irrevocable, sinister march of the lava stream through vineyard and cottage and township represents the acme of human disaster. Yet the optimism of man is so great that after the most terrific volcanic outbursts man steals back under the shadow of the fire mountains and plants his vineyards and rears his family as before. Nature, the Mother of all, carefully assists man to create beauty and wealth and all that is fair, but in the observance of her irrevocable law of change, she wipes out in a breath the myriad handiwork of her children. There is, one knows, no real reason for the habitation of country within the area commanded by an erupting volcane, but the known fertility of the lands in the vicinity of volcanoes, either active or supposedly passive (as Egniont), is so rich that man ever takes his- chance of death or I lift destruction of his goods. Indeed the average man is much more likely to be killed by a tramcar or a travelling belt, a runaway horse, and so on than by a volcanic eruption, and he takes his chances. Happily the curiosity of human nature is hard to assauge, and we read that American and English tourists are crowding up Etna much in the eager way that induced the infant to smash a watch to "see the wheels go round." Perhaps the sum of human knowledge is increased by the intrepid persons who hang by an eyebrow from the highest Alp or peer into the depths of a volcano, or brave the torrent of Xiagara from curiosity. The "grandeur" of burning Etna is grand because it is rare. In reality the minutest action or work of nature is as great and grand as a supreme outburst from the giant. If there was but one dandelion in existence it would be conI sidered a supreme spectacle.

UN-PROGRESSIVE FARMERS. It is a reflection upon the boasted progrcssiveness of the farmer of the present day that he attended to the number of only one at the meeting convened by the . Taranaki- Agricultural Society- on- -Saturday to discuss the matter of conducting manurial and other experiments under the supervision of the Agricultural Department. Farmers affect to be ex"tremely appreciative of the work that is being done by this energetic dcpnrt- [ ment through its experts and instructors, but when the time comes for them to show (heir appreciation in a practical , manner, and for them to assist the Department, lissist their neighbors and themselves, by personally conducting an experiment, or a series of experiments, | they are conspicuous by their absence. j To be sure, they know little or nothing of what was to he put before them,ami apparently they cared just about as much, for they didn't go to see. The proposal •submitted by Mr. Bayliss. t|ie Fields Instructor under the Agricultural Department, is a simple but valuable one. One feature about it is that the experiments which the fanners are asked to undertake will cost them nothing out of pocket. The Department supplies the scheme, seeds and manures, landed free at the nearest railway stations, and the farmers carry on the work according to instructions, the crops becoming their own property:' 'Nd'great imtount of labor is involved, for the area in forage crop is limited to a quarter of an acre. It is suggested'that benefit would result from experiments in growing the different varieties of maize, varieties of mangolds, lucerne, kale, and mixed forage crops, and, above nil, the cultural experiments dealing with the deepening of the cultivated area of topsoil. Mr. Bayliss points out that the Taranaki district measures the depths of its soil in feet, instead of in inches, as many other parts of the Dominion are compelled to do. Yet Taranaki is making use of only the lirst live or six inches of the soil, whilst there are lying beneath the cultivated farms to-day acres and acres unused, capable of largely increasing the output of the land when a method is arrived at for bringing it into use. The experiments in this connection would be in greon manuring, subsoil stirring and subsoil manuring, and they would of necessity extend over more than one season, Tliat there is necessity for proving to many fanners the. value of the subsoil, or the value of deeper cultivation, there is not the slightest doubt. There's too much skimploughing in vogue, some soils being turned and sweetened and used to only half the depth which Mr. Bayliss considers is the Taranaki rule. Cropping is becoming more and more necessary everv year, and if farmers have to raise crops they may as well get the fullest benefit of the exceptional possibilities which the depth of the subsoil affords. The secretary of the Agricultural Society will call the special committee together with a view of making an advance in the direction of experimental cultivation, and it is hoped that, any interested will communicate with him on the subject without delay.

A TrSCII ME.UOKIAL. There shonUl be u large attendance tonight at the Town Mull in connection witli tlio Mayor's projxisnl to establish <i memorial to the late Mr. (.'. Tisoli, who so worthily filled the ollice of eliief magistrate of Xew Plymouth for several years, ami who was always foremost in all matters tending towards tlio improvement and betterment of the place. The late Mr. Tiscb was one of those men who would not have wished for lavish expenditure on a monumental column to keep him in memory, but doubtless Air. lSrowne. in bringing down a scheme to the public, which loved the late Mayor so well, lias borne in mind Mr. Tiseli's distaste for ostentation. We will best ■remember Mr. Tisch in connection with his whole-hearted efforts for increasing the attractiveness of Xew Plymouth and its surroundings. His favorite scenes of action were the esplanade, the beaeb and, latterly. Marsland Hill. For this reason any suggested memorial should servo to liand down to future generations sonic record of his self-sacrificing and excellent work, for it is in the coming years that the people will more fully appreciate the benefit from his beautifying «elienies.