FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1917, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

FORTUNATE TARANAKI, Farming in. northern Europo is a dog's life compared with -working on the land under our less inclement southern skies, (writes the Hawera Star editorially). We are comparatively remote from the great markets of the world, but, except in the matter of labor, our expenses of produce tion ore low, since we can keep our stoc? in the paddock all the year round, and winter feed is necessary merely to supplement the grass rather than to replace it. In these circumstances it is not surprising that land in Taranaki sells at a price which is absolutely phenomena! i:i a now country. Undoubtedly many farms are sold. <it .prices which are hardly justified even when the markets for our produce are booming : yet, speaking genwally, Taranaki land i 3 dear because it will produce interest on the capital expended in ita purchase. At the same time the man who farms high-priced land must be a skilful fanner and not a muddler. Most of cur farms, though not what would generally/ bo described as big, are far too large for the capital and labor employed in working them. Most men could with advantage soil half their laud and use the nionry thus obtained In cultivating and ivmnuring the land that remained. The not retujn, after a year or two, would be quite as great as before, and the production of the province would be doubled. Many farmers consider that land is now too dear for their sons to go in lav farming and allow them to drift into the towns, whereas these young fellows, if trained in modern agricultural methods, might have made a good living oft a comparatively small, area. The farmer of the future, who is lo make an adequate return from highpriced land, must be educated for his task. Our system of instruction, in agriculture is an attempt to supply this requirement. So far the system is in its infancy, and experience will show how to improve it, but the future of Taranaki depends on the efficiency of its schools of agriculture. If men of practical experience combine with men of theory to make these a success, no one can doubt that in half a century Taranaki will be one of the most prosperous farm districts in the whole world.