AGRICULTURAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1331, 23 April 1885, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL.

TO THE EtilTOK. Sir, —I know I am venturing on dangerous ground when I presume to suggest any reform in the agricultural routine of South Canterbury ; but I never despair, as circumstances will sometimes come to bend the iron will. Our unrivalled weather has enabled our farmers to bring a late harvest to a most speedy and successful issue, and the unusual prevalence of N.W. winds has greatly hastened the drying of stacks, wliich would have otherwise taken more than average time to harden and mature corn for threshing to the best advantage. A large proporportion of crops is now threshed and delivered ; and, with few exceptions, I presume the samples will compete favorably with those of any country. I speak of corn that has been allowed a sufficient time in stack to pass through the natural fermentation, or sweat, which all must pass through in stack, sack, warehouse, mill, or ship-hold, and even in flour this relaxation, and consequent damage, will take place, if uot immediately consumed. This is the result of threshing out of stooks, or as soon as carted; and for many years I have wondered that merchants would buy indiscriminately, with out a guarantee of so many weeks in stack. They, as well as farmers, have paid dearly for the lesson, by the apparently beet samples, when shipped, selling as mere rubbish when landed in Loudon. Unfortunately, good mature samples are also damaged on voyage, by getting stowed amongst it. In England a farmer would be amenable to the law for passing off such a sample, except for seed. It at once shows the great consideration our merchants have for the farmers, in sparing them the expense of stacking, and enabling them to realise quickly. It seems very probable that the present holders of wheat will yet obtain a remunerative price ; owing to the almost certain shutting up of Russia's proproducts from the world's markets—at least for a considerable time. This ought to encourage the linseed growers for next season, as Russia's is about the chief supply of linseed, flax or hemp. If peace should be maintained, I think it is generally acknowledged that for the future our fanners must not depend on wheat as their only exportable cereal, but grow it, in duo proportion, with as groat a variety of saleable products as | our climate and soil are Biiited for. The '

time lias arrived for a legitimate system (or, rather, systems) of agriculture to be adopted, as different classes of land iu the same district require entirely different treatment aod round of cropping to render them payable. No farm should have more than half its area UDder the plough at oue time, the remainder being laid down with the beet available grasses and clovers. In proportion to the number of acres broken up annually as many should come in laid down with previous spring crops. By this system a farmer would always be able to carry an average stock best suited for his land, and '.(row necessary hay for their winter consumption, instead (as now is often the case) of starving them through the winter, and requiring the greater part of the next summer to get them in fair store order ; saying nothing of the growth lost in young starvelings, never to be regained. The tillage would require treatment according to the nature of the land. As an example I will take a 200-acre farm oft heavy to medium land. Its 100 acres or| tillage I should crop in the following! proportions, or as nearly as I could' manage it .'—Wheat 30, beans 20, peas 10, oats 10, barley 10, linseed, or hemp, or both 10, roots 30 acres. If the whole or part of the farm should be exceptionally light, less wheat and beans must be drilled, and a proportionate increase of pea"*, oats, and barley may tuke their place. Peas, with linseed cake, will soon be acknowledged aud appreciated as vabaable necessaries for keeping up our winter mutton for refrigerating. As land is now become more valuable, a great reformation isi necessary in the growth and cultivation offj roots, which are absolute necessities, with'hay, etc., to keep up a payable stock of any kind through the winter. It is not unreasonable on the back runs (where large areas of tussock are broken up, with the view of increasing its stock-carrying capacity) to sow turnips or n.pe broadcast, and trust to chance whether too mnch or no crop is the result ; but this will not do on farms with a rental of £1 per acre. A man cannot afford 50 acres, with the cost of. tilling same, seed, etc.,j to sow broadcast and to leave to chance,| with the knowledge that by so doing he will be nursing in abundance every variety of noxious weed, and with every probability of a complete or partial failure in his crop. Ten acres prepared and cleaned in due season will answer him far better. He can drill seed with or without manure as required, horse and hand-hoed plants insuring more weight of crop than 50 acres broadcast, besides cleaniug his land for future crops ; and this for less expense than the difference of rental in the two blocks. This particular season of the year calls the attention of the practical/English farmer (who will make j"st the one we want here) to several important duties necessary to insure satisfactory results next summer and autumn. I refer to ploughing for beans, winter tares, and wheat, all of which should be drilled as early as possible ; the two former from this date to the second week in May will have the best chance. Winter tares for early spring feed can be profitably mixed with about one fourth of *' b#re" or oats, which holds them off the ground and causes an earlier crop. Beans, for which our heavy land and climate are specially suited, Bhould form a considerable item in our expoits, as tl;ey realise a good average price in the English markets, with fewer countries to compete in the production than any other farm produce. Egypt, at one time the principal reliable source, has greatly fallen off for some years, and Egyptian beans are far inferior to N.Z. samples, which realised the highest price in Mark Lane last year. If properly cultivated, beans will not only yield a heavier return than any other corn, but are more impervious to weather while in stook, where they can remain, if necessary, till all the other corn is carted, although they may have been cut first. As a crop it is the finest precursor for wheat, and may be shipped to any distance without sacks, which is a consideration. Of course this depends entirely on the will and cooperation, of the farmers to grow a sufficient quantity to induce our shipowners to send a vessel with the necessary compartments for shooting them in. I near! scarcely remind our farmers that the earlier wheat is drilled after this the more reliable will it be for crop and sample. It is of equal importance at this' time (or as sood as it can be accomplished) tint clean, land, intended for liuseed in the spring, should be selected and ploughed with a deep furrow, and remain through the winter to the action of the frost aud weather. Ibe same treatment will be applicable for land intended for root cropping. I would recommend anyone who is about to break up any extent of good sound lea land to drill a proportion with beans and wheat as early as possible, and have a reserve through the winter for flax as soon as possible in the spring. Winter beans drilled this month or early in May, and linseed drilled in August, will be ready to harvest by the end of December. No land liable to flooding should be selected. Doubtles? flax is destined to figure as an important item among the products of N.Z., and will be equally important for its fibre, oil, and cake. Notwithstanding the numerous discouragements received from farmers and shareholders in this district, the Directors of our local Company are determined to show them their folly in net growing sufficient crop to justify the importation of the necessary expensive machinery for.the production of oil, cake, and fibre, and spinning the latter into payable staples. I have good authority in saying that they have a full spinning plant nearing our coasts, and, to encourage all to prepare land for next Spring, and secure seed, they guarantee £3 per ton for the crop (delivered), when fit to cart to stack at the Company's works. This should pay better than any other crop at present grown. People must not be carried away with the idea that because our forefathers in the Emerald Isle preferred to pull their half acre or acre that it is absolutely necessary to do the same in New Zealand in 1885 ; or even in " Quid Ireland," where, for some years, larger areas have been harvested by machinery, or at least cut above ground. It is quite fresh in my memory when every acre of corn was cut with hook and scythe, but this would not be reconcilable in these days of "Reapers and Binders." It is the same with fhx, the root of which, and for an inch above ground, is useless for fibre. With land finely prepared, and rolled to a smooth, level surface, »ve have " mowing machines" and " tillers," which can be set to

shave the land, especially with young grasses and clovers in the bottom, which will generally be the case, flax being the best nursing crop for new pasture. In a season or two, when growers will be induced to grow extra fine crops for fibre alone, to compete with European lint, it will be quite time enough to have it pulled, and 1 doubt if that even will be necessary. For all kinds of twines, cords, and small ropes, I feel confident that retting will soon be proved lete, which will be another great economy, in working. There are no difficulties in the way for farmers to grow erery variety of crop suitable to our soil and climate; as the district is pretty well supplied with drills specially constructed to meet every demand. The first of these drills was imported April 1863, has been in constant work since 1865, and is still good for a few years. I mention this to show the substantiality of English-made implements, compared with American. These drills are adapted to cross all furrows, and cut to any depth required, from half-an-inch to full thickness of furrows. The feet, or coulters, work from 3 inches (necessary for linseed) to any required width ; and will deposit as low as \ pint of turnip seed per acre or as high as 25 pecks, which is never required, except where artificial manures or lime may be mixed with seed. Beans are drilled with the same facility as seed or corn. In fact, they are specially made to meet every demand to which a drill can be applied. —I am, etc., Examiner. Temuka, 17th April, 1885.