The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1889. A Word to Farmers.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3184, 20 April 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1889. A Word to Farmers.

"Look here; I have cropped this paddock off and on for twenty-five years past, and it is as good as ever. What do you think of that for land?" That is one of the expressions that might be heard over and over again by • anyone who takes a turn among tho farmers of the Wairarapa, many of whom go '. even further than that- and say that the land which they have cropped for a good deal mOrethan half a'generation is even better than ever for it. Those who are able to say either the one thing or the other have certainly been very lucky. At tho same time, they will, perhaps, cause us for doubting'the truth of their assertion. All laud, no matter of what description it may bo, contains a quantity of materials that are necessary to plant life. These materials may be so abundant that they actually hinder growth. .For instance, a manure heap, on whioh scarcely anything will grow, contains too much of the elements of plants life, But that heap, if spread over a considerable area of ground, will nevertheless enrich it and asßist plants to grow. Ground that is said to have been improved by-, continual cropping may safely [be put down as having had a superabundance of one or more of the materials that are necessary to plant lifo, which have thus been reduced to a more favorable proportion., Is any farmer possessed of average intelligence prepared to tell us that his land will go on for ever producing good crops without having returned to it anything that will compensate it lor what it has lost ? We hardly think so. Every farma must know that land cannot possibly be inexhaustible, No one can say that the land in the Wairarapa is first class for tho production of either wheat or oats. It has growu good average crops of both for a good many years past, and in this it has surpassed the apparently rioher country in the Rangitikei and Manawatu districts, which have shown signs of exhaustion at a much earlier period; but that simple fact does not oonstituto a guarantee that it will go on doing so forever. The time must, of necessity, come, when some of the materials necessary to plant life have become exhausted, .unless the precaution has been lakou to return thes6 materials in the sh'apo.of manure.' We do not pretend to know how much longer any particular piooe of land will bear cropping without assistance. Some of it might, for aught wo know, con-tinue-to grow profitable orops for another twenty-five years, or it might show signs of collapse with the very next lot oi seed that is put in. The question is one that an agricultural chemist would settle with tolerable certainty. But that the time will come is an absolute certainty; and when it does come, it will mean utter ruin to those'; who depend upon their land for a living, unless they take care of their land as a dairyman would of his cows. Ground that has once become exhausted cannot be set right by the free application- of manure, nor will it grorv grass worth speaking abuufc until'.it has been allowed to'recuperate by : areat pf some years. There are many districts in Australia which -formerly supplied wheat in abundance,, aiid which are now deserted, beoasse they will not grow either cereals or grass. In years to oojne they will, nodotibt, be again taken up, and again yield remunerative orops, but the tenants will then, without doubt, remsmber what happened'.therfl. h,efore,' : ap.d provide against # similar disaster/ The West Coast.of this island, can unfortunately, show similar experiences, though they have not beenso marked as they were in Australia.' rlifl kbitsof ilie greaj m|prit; pf farmers herehayo been, p "are aoiyy ty «y,'of a most,improvident nature. Die nh lift? to to take as : .mu.ch is possiblo out of $e |!pi,jffli!not :etum anything to (t, -fiieip. jiayi, Mrh'api, been alternations between vbe'at nod gats, with a rVst at Idb'g I

intervals; but nothing more.■'; Buchi farming, no, douht^proyes^iil'ofitible Enough for the|ijiie?beiiig, |i'it means failure in'the end. v-For:soine unexplained reasoh, ilie very idea of manuring land ap'peaia to to repugnant to the majority of our farmers, who, rather than put tho sweepings from their stables and cowsheds ; on the land, allow them to go to-waste, or gladly give them away.to anyone who oarts to come for them, A little forethought (must [Burely convince tbem that the best' place for these iliirigs'is' tlieii? own " paddock, wliiolf is to keep thorn and their descendants after them. By putting the manure on their land they would return to it a great deal that they have taken from it, and provide for the future. To expect hnd'to remain fertile for oyer assisting it, is about, equal to expecting a' horse to work without giving it anything to. eat. We. trust that the farmers of this district will turn the matter over in their minds, and take suoh steps as will preserve the fertility of the soil on their,land, and by this uieanß provide, not only for their own future, but for that of tbeirdesoendants; ■ ■

Mr S. Bacon advertises in our wauled column for eight boys for his flux-mill at'Alfrcdton.i Applications oan boraado to Mr Bacon at Masterton, up to Monday next at 11 a.in. Notice is given by Moaars J. and H, •Holmes in auother column that trespassers on "Matahiwi will be prosecuted; Twenty springing Ayrshire heifers, forty head of mixed calves, and a line of sheep are added to Mr P. H. Wood's Taratahi stock sale for Thursday next.

A meetinp will bo held at tho Club Hotel, Mastertoii, this evenfhg to consider the advisability of. holding a Hock Raoe Meeting on' May 24th, Queen's Birthday. - .

Tho School children of the Alfredton Sohool district were. invited by tho settlers to a picnic yesterday in Messrs Macquario's grounds and woolshed The affair was a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by both old arid young.

The followiug team will represent.the Star Cricket Club to play off the final heat with Carterton, on the Masteiton Oval on Monday next, commencin? at 10a.m:-A.,W.,E.,andfl.Welcb,A. Richards, Everndon,'Hawke, Wickens, O'Connor, A, Minifie, Boulcott, Bogie, Matthews, St. Clair, Kibblewhite. Emergencies—Broom, Bentley, and W, Day. .'

On Good Friday Masterton was deserted by all except the devoutly inclined and thoso whom, duty or necessity compelled to stay at homo, The "pay aud giddy" wore off at an early hour to enjoy a days' outing A great many started with dog and gun to hove the first of the shooting season. The old familiar spots, within comfortable walking disvance, where many a bag has beon made up in former yoars, offer but slight chance of sport at tho present time. Many of the owners of bush reserves have publicly notified that trespassers are objected toaiid the result is that those who desire to succeed hi making up anything like a decent bug have to take a two or three hours' ride on horseback beforo firing a shot. The berries are very plontiful this year, on the supplejacks especially, clusters of blight red betrics are hanging in profusion. Tawa trees also are full of rich purple fruit, and as a oonsequence pigeons Bkould be plentiful. The trains were well patronised, both up and down, and the livery statlos had a difficulty in supplyin? the requirements of tho pleasuro seoking public, all hacks, buggies, and brakes . boing engaged. There were two or thrco tea meetings in the town, the principal boing that hold by the Wesleyan fraternity•• and their friends. Tho sky .was clouded and the wind high, but away from the dusty roads it.was very pleasanfcand the many picnic parties must have had a happy time of it, There were no cricket or football gameß in Mastorton. A brakoload uf tho Mastertoii Junior Football Club vi6ited Grovtowu whero they wore very neatly put through by fifteen of the Fire Brigade Juniors. A rifle competition at the Mastertoii butts occupied tho attention of a number of crack marksmen.

According to a correspondent of the Eleotrical Review Mr Edison believes that the time will como when transportation through tho air will be tho order of things in that lino. Tho idea that the air-ship must go a mile high or more is erroneous, If it were r.o higher than an ordinary building it would suffice, "When the time comes for it to be put in operation," ho said," there will be one drawbaok to it, .and that is the ease which it will afford criminals to make their escape from whatever point their crime was committed. There will be no danger of their being intercepted by wire, as is the case now, It may be that the same scienco which will give us thissortof navigation will provide something else by whioh criminals who make their escape through tho air will be overtaken, Rut this will take time, In my opinion, when we shall have aerial navigation we shall see raoro crime.

Wo remind those interested, of the Red Star Football Club's second annual plain and fancy dress ball to bo held in the Masterton Theatre Royal on Easter Monday under the patronage of the ladies of Masterton. There is every prospect of the ball being noil attended, judging by the large number of tickets sold. _ Tho members will appear in their new picturesque' uniform consisting of crimson jerseys aud stockings, and white pants. Musio will be provided by a capital string band, and persons desirous of attending the tjatheriue as spectators will bp admitted to tho gallery at a charge bl one shilling eaoh. Tickets of admission to • tho ball at os double, and 2s 6d extra lady, may bo obtained atMeßsrs J. Williams', T. E. Price's and J. Washington's or: from members of the Club.''

The ship Bay of Cadiz, bound from Sydney to San Francisco, is posted as missing. .

Seven steamers, conveying 6000 oraigrants sailed from Liverpool during tho present weok for. America .

. The sugar market'is greatly excited, owing to the burst up of. the'.Great Amorican "Trust," formed last year.

A young man named McLean was killed on Thursday at Waipu, by the falling of a tree,

A telegram frnm Oaniaru states there is an actiyo demand for farming properties in that'diatriot, and within tho past fow woeks many farms have changed hands,

Applications for an .assistant Master for the Masterton.Schuol and teachers for Gladstonp Tinul and Kaiwhata (»ided) Schools close with tho Booretary of the Education Board on Monday next, A sportsman in the Wangaehu Valley yesterday narrowly escaped an accident, Ho killed his bird, and was nearly killed himself with fright,. at tho bursting of Ill's gun barrel. Fortunately he. wasii.pt pvon wounded, Joseph Roberts was arrested at Tinni by Constable Collerton yesterday, on a warrant ißsued by the 1 Waipawa Bonoli op the 13th inst,, charging him with the lareeuy of £lO, the property of John MoVicar, , l

There was a football match at Grey, town yesterday between the first fifteen of the; Masterton lunior Football Club and the junior team of the Greytown Fire Brigade Club, whep the latter were victorious by fiy'e pointeionjl, .'• '-'-,'';.

'' Messrs^Lowes'and-Irons call 'specjal attention to itboir large and .important sales for'the coming week.. Ori Tuesday the 23rd thoy hold a clearing sale of Mr D\- Gariinp's, /pi" stock, implements, household . ?nd- .on the foildwing day-'theiif regular 'stock" sale., THe catalogue for whioh, comprises 16,00. breeding. ewes,' ■ 800 'fat' wetbersiilOO j gppd store ffethjSw/lOOOlamtet fltftm] &dttW,Pigß,&'ci.'-. : '.'-.. I

Tiny; New Zealand: Trade Review and ; W)llingto§ v ]?rice's , .Ourrensii,April ph, ./reports; : hv reference';% pax: ' absence.; off; London!; ordeni and advice l.ot caiier rates Hhere checked business 'here, 5 'and, quotstipns are nominal afc'£l7 to £2O per ton. Shipments .are being mado to San Francisco, with a view of opening a market there, ..

Aliiiuiber (if property owners in the 1 Mangakutadistrictnotify-that treapaasera with do? or gun after this date will bo prosecuted. It has been found necessary to take this notion to' 'preserve'the pheasants and-quaihwhich:have'beeti turned but-'there from destruction. If the birds are protected for a year or so, there wiH'be plenty of snort for everyone' but in the .meantime trespassers must leave tho stock birds to flourish.

'J Major" Rolfe, from South Australia, arrived in Mastertoii today,' and it is announced;, by/' advertisement .that a general bamba'rdment of- the : to'wn : will take place, this evening cominenoing at 7 o'oloclc.. On Sunday;the'.''.Major" will load the meetings all day, arid in the afternoon will enrol soldiers... On. Mondays public picnic in Mrß. McKonzie's paddock, and fraud raview.of troops will tako'placo followed by a tea" to wind up tho Easter festivities.

. Our'Greytown correspondent writos: —TheMain-streetyesterday wns quite deserted, whether this happened through the immense quantity of .cross buus consumed or people gone to church or visiting elsewhere,is hard to conjecture, A public picnio took place yesterday at Moiki under the enegertio management of Mrs James Cotter, there was a fair attendance from tho surrounding district, Greytow'n especially. There was a small band of music performing on the ground, the visitors enjoying themselves in tho usual maimer' nutil dmh when the affair broke up. Mr Joseph Francs, son-in-law of the Rev. W. Rouse, together with his wile, and two children, leftMasterton yesterday (Friday) morning by train for Wellington en route for England. They proceed by the Orient line via Sydney, Adelaide, Suez Canal aiid Naples. It is the intention of Mr Francs to-settle down in tho Old Country where he will enter into businoss with his father who is a well-known merchant in West Bromwioh; Mr Francs] came to tho colony some six years since for the benofit of- his health, and, thanks to our wonderful climato, he returns home thoroughly renewed in health and strength, During his sojourn in different parts of New Zealand Mr Francs' mado many friends, and when he took, his departure from Masterton yesterday, a large number assembled at the station, to wish him and his famiiy hn'voyage,

The'second annual meeting of the Mastorton Rifle Association was commenced on Good Friday and finished to-day. : Tho-full scores-had not been mado up in time for our to-day's issue, but they will appearon Monday, There was a large attendance, including Volunteers from all parts of the district, and nino from Wellington, In the Ladies' Match, which was tho first on the programme, Vols, 0, Hoffeins and Blaneeach piled up the extraordinary score of 46 out of a possiblo 60 at 200 yards, : Bina]l target, G. Bentley being 3rd with only two points behind them, so that the three leading prizes fell to local men, In tlte Masterton match 300 and 500 yards. Howe (Wellington), 52, Atkinson (Wellington) 50, and Captain Donald (Mastorton) 47, wire the fop scorers, Henry (Wellington) wastop scorer with 48, in the Wairarapa matco, tho ranges being 500 and 600 yards, ■'*'.■•

We have again to remind our readers of the eoucert to bo held m the Drill Hall on Monday, to provide funds for additions to the Catholio Presbytery. From enquiries made we hear that it hi likely to be a pronounced sucoess. His Grace Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington, accompanied by Father •Maciiftmara' and others of the clergy of Wellington, have-announced their intention of being present, tho hall is being profusoly decorated for-the occassion, and the ladies of Maiterton havo providod a most libei nl supply of goud things for the tea, Add to these, tho attraction of hearinir many who are sttaugers to a Mastorton audience, and it will be evident that no pains have been spared by the Rev Father McKenna to bring the undertaking, to a successful issue the object is bo well deaorvinc of, It will bo observed that tickets may be obtained tor the concert only should any one find it inconvenient to be present at both tea and concort,

:' Some boys were on the rocks at the Red Point, off Akaroa, on Saturday (says tho Press), aud cainoacrosß a nest of old cannon balls. A small landslip had caused these old stagers to roll down, and tho sea had washed tho clay away from them. Some of them are the real old 32-pounders, and must have been fired from the French men-of-war nearly CO years ago. They are eaten away with age, being quite rough on the outside.

It appears the guaranteed steamin? power of the Gorman warship Olga was 14 knots, and of the American flagship, tho Trenton, 13 knots.while tho Calliope s which steamed out of Apia when the othors could not,', .is only 13 7 knots. The Calliopo was therefore inferior in speed to the Olga and very little superior to tbe.Trenton.

, Evidences of the mavoh of progress ar evinced in these days by tho attempt so worthily made to bring the great body of consumers into all but direct contact with the noted manufacturers of Britain and the Continent, through the medium of the proprietor of tho celebrated Te Are House, Wellington. Not content with having erected ono of Largest, moßt Convenient and Magnificent Family Drapery. Warehouses to bo found this Bide of the Equator, and which attracts os .it should large concourses of Customers,' he seeks still further to influence the public -by sending his representatives through the various country districts, to make known to the residents tho manifest advantages of dealing with Te Avo House, Wellington, A representative is now in this distriot and will call upon all and sundry with patterns of Seasonable Dress and other l'abrics, Houßohold Drapery, Tweeds, Coating, &o, He will take orders of Dressmaking, Tailoring, and everything connected with the drapery trade, and tho Proprietor trusts that every courtesy will bo extended to him with large number's of orders to be executed at Te Aro' House, .Wellington. '..,* AH parcels'will be sont, carriage paid, to any Btation on the Government and Manawatu Hallway' Company's Lines thatmay be nearest to tho customer's .residence, and thus country purchasers wi]i be placed on the same footing as thoßO resident in the City, and- enjoy all-the advantages connected with-.dealing direotly with the Importer, James Smith, i.To Aro • House, Wellington.—Advt. ', " Kocou ON IUTS,i'

.Clears out rats, mice, roaches flies, ants; beg-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbit 3, sparrows, gophers, At chemists and druppißts,