AGRICULTURE AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 128, 23 October 1914, Page 2

AGRICULTURE AT HOME.

SCATHING CRITICISMS. London, September 2. Mr J. E. Close, Bay of Islands, has just concluded a comprehensive tour of the agricultural districts of the Old Country, particularly of Scotland, where he purchased a number of valuable draught horses. In conversation to-day Mr Close said any colonial must admire tho way in which the country here is farmed. It was simply marvellous, but at the same time one was forced to the. conclusion that a large percentage of the farmers could get a better return for a great deal less labour if they would' only emigrate to New ealand. The grain crops without exception Mr Close consider.-,, cannot compare'with those oi New Zealand.. The quality is as good, if net superior, hut.the t-hitlcliesß is. ™ :t ''v .The ground- can usually be seen all through the. English crop and the yield :<■]■ aciv wou.d n,>i, compare with that in N".'w Zealand. hay, however, is far better than that in New Zealand. What .Mr Close, has noted is"that grain crops are often feeiing, the effects of the dry .weather here when th:o-:"pas-ture is still green: In.the colonics'jt is usually the other waj about Before ' the gr*in crops feel th e dry;weather, hte grass is already dry and burned. ... /. SHOW SYSTEM DEFECTIVE. - Talking about stock, Mr..Close; remarked one or two very grave defects in the agricultural show system in both England and Scotland, and he Bpeaka after having visited moat of the Important fixtures throughout the spring- and summer. The trouble -with' the Judging, he says, is that the judges are selected by the large breeders who naturally select men they know will fancy their particular strain in horses or cows. In the colonies the societies get the ma» who is proved, best by ..experience, and he is engaged regardless of expense, lie is absolutely disinterested and has no bias, so that Ms decision can bo accepted with confidence.

"People in the country districts here," says Mr Close, "often laugh at tho decisions of the judges, and yet the thing goes on year after year. It is,an appalling tiling for. a colonial to go to a show looking for information and to be told that so and sp's colt will not win because so and ao in judge, the custom seems to have gone .for years, but w. is quite time something is done to change it. Unbiassed Men of "experience should be brought in from outside districts.'

Mr Close and Mr Harding visited all the great Scottish shovfn, and as'a result of their observations were able to select a number of Clydesdales ifor New Zealand which they believe arc the fimest offering, > . .