ROTATION OF CROPS.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 898, 26 March 1878, Page 2

ROTATION OF CROPS.

Sib, —On all previons essays read before the Cambridge Farmers' « lnb the public have refrained from making comment, leaving that for the members of the club, but, sir, with your permission, I would like to say a few words respecting the recent one on the above subject. As you have shdwn the essayest a large amount of indulgence, may I, as a subscriber, claim a small portion also. In the first place, I think the above subject of too great importance to be skimmed over in a few columns, including extracts from different professors on lime, bone dust, farm yard manures, and pig styes. Previous essays have been given on individual crops with a considerable amount of success, but I am afraid the last one is not so. It is like trying to put five gallons of whiskey into a three gallon keg. I have taken up this subject to disabuse any minds, like the essayest's, who may think there is not an idea outside the Cambridge Farmers' Club. In justification of that remark your essayest says, owners of large estates who may wish to leave their land to tenants will naturally look to .this club to enable them to make suitable terms. "What an idea! The blind leading the blind. When that expression was published it became public property. I think, sir, the essay might h.ive been more successful if divided under different heads, also as to the size of the farm, probable amount of rent or interest on capital invested, cost of freight on seeds and manure, cost of implements, or interest on cost, labor, also the nature of soil, and confine himself to one kind at a time, also whether the essay was written from actual experience, or only a dream. An essay from actual experience would receive respect whether a man had been successful or otherwise, as it is by, actual experience we may hope for fiture success. The most pleasing thing* to me was the remarks of Mr Hicks veg&vdinginspection, showing that he, as a praotic a I man, was not above receiving counsel. Much more may be said, but I refrain from lutruding on your and the public indulgence—l am, &c, John Johnstone, junr.