PERPETUAL CORN FARMING.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 404, 15 December 1874, Page 2

PERPETUAL CORN FARMING.

liTaJrecent article in the Times a system of perpetual corn forming wa* explained, the secret lying in a method of deep ploughing by moans of •tram. This plan bas been carried out. by Mr John Prout at Sawbridgewort'i, wherr the following extraordinary rotation of props has been follower! : — 1874. wheat ; 1873, wheat ; 1872, wheat; 1871, barley ; 1870, whent ami b»ney £1869, w'>eit. out*, and beans ; 1868 wheat, bnrl'-y, and brans; 1867, barley and bean*-; 1866, wheat, and barley; 1865, barley, bi'ans, nnd fall iw The cropping upon the whole farm dm ins; the la*t three Tear* has comprised 310 to 3-10 acies of wheat, 22 t> 62 acres ( f oats, and 43 to 55 acres of clover, cut t » ice for hiy ; no barley, beans, peas, roots, green crops, or bare fallow. Ni» rooti hare been grown «inee 1865, nnd no summer fallow iiiij ha» bpen done since 1860. Air Prout depose* hi* crops standing, and thus the cost of harvi-siin^ is delrayed by the purchaser. The pro'luce of lin »ales ha* been hs follow*: — £4 726 in 186S, £3 742 in 1869. £5.232 in 1870, £4,625 i-« 1871, £4,743 in 1372. £4 570 in 1873. and £4,62S in 1874, or an average of £4,619 per annum, or about £10 5d per nere on the 450 acres grots area of the farm. The total yearly cost, of Hie steam tillage, not including tninual labour. liHti been about £230 ; the areraue manual labour bill, £55 > ; maintenance of six hordes all I lie venr. and of six t<i ten horti's for one or two mo-iths, s>v £220; nrt-final manu-es, £1 326 pc- annum ; seed, -a. £28); tot il, £2 606. Adding for til) c, i-ent-eharae, poor mte. and tax, sewer rate, and inconie ta\ 242, and for rent £G37, the total outlay amounts t>> £3,4 6 p<'i' annum. The balance of £1,131 on the right side ol i he b "ok has to cover certain general expenses nf the farm, its repairs, a'id'mana;.'ement, and \\w cost for irisumnce; the remiiinder is then divisible into two portions — farming profit upon the tenant's cHpital, and return for tl>e proprietor's investment in permanent improvements. C early enough, there is a very hundaoine margin available for the two par ie».