FARMING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 348, 18 April 1874, Page 3

FARMING.

(To the Editor.) Sin, — I observe in your issue of the 11th insfc., a letter signed " Colonial Farmer," and he evidently imagines that I wißh to get 640 acres of land fit for the plough in one block, and cultivate the lot; but that is an erroneous idea. He must consider that if Igo in for farming, I prefer to follow a reproductive and different course of cropping, not the general system that is adopted in this district. There is sufficient good land in the district which, if properly treated, to produce all that I have shown ; and considering I have had 30 years farming experience in Victoria, England, and New Zealand, I think I should know something of the subject. "" Colonial Farmer " evidently feels grieved as he, speaks of sneering at him ; but instead of sneering at him, I pity him and his fellow colonial farmers, and inform him if I get 320 acres of fair average land in my block, the same as shown in my figures will apply with equal success. By fallowing the land, lam certain of a crop from 40 to 60 bushels to the acre. I may inform " Colonial Farmer " that I have assisted to gather in a crop of wheat that went 72 bushels to the acre, and on ground that had been tilled for several years. My grandfather, when he was a boy, had to assist in gathering the stones into heaps off the land I refer to, so as the drays coidd cart them into the low places to allow the plough to work in the field. It may seem strange, but you must understand that the land 1 speak of is of much the same quality as we have on Tuapeka, consisting of hills and eidolings, so that I don't imagine myself either enthusiastic, or calculating my chickens before they are hatched ; but intend having full grown birds, and feeding them and myself on the fat of the land. These matters, no doubt, sound very strange to colonial farmers who have been cropping their little plots for the last six or seven years, and instead of getting bigger crops of corn, why the sorrel is going to live and reign with them. The ground gets the blame of all this ; buf if any land is cropped year after year with the same crop, and everything carted from the farm, and sold even to the last bundle of

straw, nothing else can be expected. It is like putting a sum of money in a bank, and drawing 'on the . principal, until it is exhausted. I here tender a little advice both theoretical and practical. If our farmers, instead -of scratching the 'ground, would plough it no less than 6 inches deep, and instead of carting everything off the land, would only allow a little stock to be driven to the market ; if they would study the rotation or crops, grow rroot crops, and consume them on the ground, and turn their straw into manure, then they would find fanning would pay. ' It will bo remembered that I did not dispose of my straw, which, if I had done, would have swollen my profits for the first year ; But would have tended to ruin my,farm, so I declined to dispose of it, but turned it to a better use. Let the cows be turned into the rough ground in winter time, and fold them in at night, and plenty of sweet straw will assist the cows, and greatly increase the dairy produce, and at the same time make very good manure. Then wool brings very good prices, and good mutton brings a very fair price, so a few sheep might be introduced with advantage to feed on the English grasses. In winter they could' be fed on the root crops, which would be the means of increasing the value of the sheep, and would i insure a good crop of wheat at the same time. By this system, they would not rob the land but improie it. A few good pigs would be j required to eat the inangel-wurtzel, potatoes, and small grain that might not be fit for market as first-class wheat, and a good market for bacon will easily be found. Bacon, when properly cured, is a profitable production, as the j cost of curing is very small. One for "Plough Boy":— Sir,— l am intruding on your space, and my time will not permit me to go into a long controversy, but if " Plough^ Boy " cannot see his way clear to get more than 7 bushels to the acre, I beg to inform him that he will raise that if he gets an old sow and a few little pigs to root up the land, and dispense with the plough altogether. If " Plough Boy " cannot see his way clear to get more than 7 bushels to the acre, I fear he wilL not catch the hare, for it would never stop with him and his 7 bushels to the acre. — I am, &c, Practical Farmer.