CAMBRIDGE FARMER'S CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 577, 1 February 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

CAMBRIDGE FARMER'S CLUB.

Sib, — In your issue under date of 21st of December last, you publish the inaugural address of the President of the Cambridge Farmers Club. Kvery Meclesn, Esq. in the shape of an eisajon farming, which gave me very much pleasure in perusal, tliero can bo no better object undertaken by a country district society than the develnpe* incut of the agricultural and pastoi-Rl interests of the Province, and ono way of getting at the belt mean 6 of its accomplishment, is by tlio writing and publishing of such e*»ays as the one read by Mr Muclcan, because it it compiled from tbe practical experience of year*. Erery line | carries with it the conviction of truth and common sense, and the priiicip'es therein laid down or manuring, grain growing and breeding, if followed by young Waikato, will eventually be found 10 be invaluable and be the making of the land and the farmer*, instt id of the ruination of hoth, as has been the caie to a large and lamentable extent heretofore, on the lands around Auckland, which cm bo reniied by many now farming; in the Waike.to, who have left the Viang «re and Fanviki districts, and who hare left its lands so impoverished and worn oui< by a series of poaching, that ip, taking all they possibly could out of the land, and reiurring nothing to it. Upon the discussion whic'u followed the delivery of tbe essay, and tbe opinions expressed by some of the members preseut. as p<*r your report, I am sadly afraid that the old leaven seems to stick closely to sora« of the farmers who imigrated from the suburbs of Auckland to Waikato, and should such opinions be not contradicted great harm may ensue to young Waiknto imbibing tbe opinions giwn by 20 years old farmers, and the same lazy sjateni of do nothing farmmg may be adopted, to the detriment of Waikato and [ itt people, for instance Mr John Runciman gravely ad^iies farmers to barn thoir straw durely this niu*t be a typographical error, he really could not htfemeant it. He further advises artificial manure 83 better and cheaper than farm yard manure. This it so absurd, so contrary to fact, that the wonder is how any man of the least experience would venture to make buch an assertion. Mr Jnmos Kunciaian is reported to have said " that artificial manure should be preferred as it was more portable and rffictcioui," and this fr.im an old colonist who should know something; of farming in New Zealand, is so utrerly incomprehensible, t httt one can only n*k. MrJimes Rtmcimen to n\\ae his artificial manure. Wh>ii tort is it, which possesses 'his wonderful effect, it should be known to all orestion. We have known nothing of it before ; from all practical experience, tests of ohemiitry, and chemical manure theories, wo have hitherto learnt that nothing is to efficacious and so remunerating as farm yard dung, artilkial manure being simply an addendum or substitute (through scarcity) for the leil thing. Mr Douglas poti plains that iuiiu y~V r lunu contains w< eHs wh \ n j tu'e nnd spoil his eio.^ij, why tlio snirtllebt. psiWinl finijoiß in ould Itc'l.utd desiroyb first tli-> vcgefnuoti :n h.s tiikiiU"e before applying it tr> t'-o HnJ. On tlie w'luiti thii j^e rti (•>» \zloui,} of room and work i'«>r tl>e CiitubiiHge W-mtr* Ciul>, and tl">t u w;ll Jo much piori t))"r'.» f'Duot bo a doubt, pjttie ilrtib* it they get mon of suoli farmitig oiiort' p* Mr Mrtile<m to guide on,) assist in tlit» upward efibi'f. It set-tos p^rntiiilly iie n ossKiy tec -if )t would not be "nnsidured presuming in me '■o bu^test— timt a libra) y should bo appended with standard «> rks on ngi multure and agricultural chomj-'try, Liobig's and i<lh< re, the iv.idi»g of which would iiuon di>|>)ui;o the crude notiouf indulged in by some persons. There cannot be too much gtrrts aluo laid ou ths advice given by Mr Maal«n that the farmer should keep

away from joining anything tbul tended to take him from off hid farm. Flaying at Boldurt may be » Tery sice pastime no doubt', but it i» «xpen* tir« and waatea a !ot of Yaluabl* time, and GoTernni»ntdonot appreciate nor compeniHte It i> belter for the farmer to mind his farm and pa/ for a good efficient soldier to do the soldiering for bim —besides farmers wben they have dounea the regimentals do not like to plough aud muck a field in their officers uniform. Mr Maclean has etidently written upon a subject which he thoroughly understaudr, which ho knownt all abou!;. So positive is his position from actual and hard experience, he can afford to appear almost egotistrcally dogmatic upon thw theme ho etsays upon. The olub ha 3 miHe nn excellent beginiiing. I truit it will be followed up vigorously und manfully, and the mark it will mako will be teen and felt ia the Waikato in yean to come.— l am, &c, Gincinhattts.