STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. THE QUESTION OF SMALL VERSUS LARGE FARMS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1571, 29 July 1882, Page 6

STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. THE QUESTION OF SMALL VERSUS LARGE FARMS.

BVAX OLD COLOXI.sT.

EVERY now and again there is discussion aroused regarding the suitability for colonists of what is termed the small farn. system. In our columns also, the question has been dis cussed in so far as showing that many amongst us would be better off if they had to look after less land. And this did not apply to those who took up, or hold country for squatting pursuits only ; but to very lai'se nnmbers of the farming classes as well. The gist of our experience anil observation in the matter is that, in farming, or grazing — as tho case is in every other business — the man makes a serious mistake who tries to do more than his capitel and time enable him to control with safety. It would be safe to go farther, and to add thatinnohusinessis it more necessary than in farming to confine the operations to the area of land that can be used with profit. Every acre a man selects or purobascs should be made to return somo- ( thing. If it does not, then is there a loss - of capital ; and no class of men in the community is less able than farmers 'to ' allow either their capital to lie idle, or to waste their energies in any manner which gives no return. Bnt we are far from agreeing with those theorists who assert that the small**farm syfltem of densely populated counts tries is suitable for colonials. Belgium,; 'Holland, portions of Italy, and Ireland' "\axl I -the „mosfc! notable for small farms, i O£ the -ktter little need be said here. -; ! Farming oannpt be considered a success' l-> , V^ltfllaud,' and "WO are, p£s9 number Who heartilypthajt occupy-;, fcv actions other than* thooe pertaining Ja> . pEe &ssP|j^Spfeapiedthe ' att&taori^mojrtr; genev

wine, silk, and other industries, has many features which, in time will be followed moro extensively in the colonies. But, labor, such as abounds in Italy, will have to bo abundant, ere silk culture is likely to be followed hero extcnsivoly. Of her wine industries move can be naid with advantago as being suitable to us. The very excellent dairying experiences of Ilollaud have also foatuics of value. But, for tho present, it may be best to deal with Belgium, which tho advocates of small farms bring forward, and deservedly so, as the mcdel country. Examination, however, and comparison with the circumstances of thoso who take up and work land and have te seek a market for their produce in the colonies, does not show so clearly as supposed, that we should take Belgium with safety as a guide. It ia nil very well to give the area of the country to show how many thousands of land-holders in it work their six, ten, or twenty-acre patches, and not only live tolerably well upon them, but in some cases make money. That such is tho case in Flanders, is undoubted ; but the conditions under which tho system nourishes are peculiar, and have n© bearing that could be applied generally in any of the colonies. At tho same time, round all our cities aro numbers of gardeningfarmers, or gardeners pure and simple, who do very well upon small holdings of about the same area as thoso usual in Belgium. Tho products of the small holdings in the colonies are vegetables mostly, with fruits, &c. As population increases, occupations of that kind will increaso with them ; but it must bo a natural increaso — a result of increased demand for certain supplies. Otherwise there will bo serious failure- to all concerned. It would not only bo silly, but mischievous and cruol to adviso number* of people to go into such business, or to attempt making a living upon such small patches of laud away from the cities and tawns. The produce is of that character which cannot pay unless got to market quickly and at comparatively little cost. Platform-speakois and theoretical writers may advocate the small-farm system as much as they plea«o. Men who have experienco of colonial faring, arc not at all likely to bo influenced by them j and wo tiust novices will not bo captivated by what may seem easy and pretty in theory, but which will not ■work out in practice. The reasons why the small farm systnm is not adapted to the colonies arc not far to seek. Wo can find them in tho Belgian practice — that practice which has been quoted so extensively of late, but without giving the practical details without which farming information is of little or no value. It if? only during the last forty years that small farming made such amazing headway in Flanders ; and by-the-wav, the system is nlso being extensively followed in Hollond, Norway, Sweden, and other places within the reach of the great maikcts of Britain, and especially tho.se accessible quickly to London, which seems to absorb all that can be Bent to it in the shape of food supplies. Since 1810 the number of land owners in Inlander.-,, the great focus of small farms, lias more than doubled. Possibly, if wo had tho figures, it would bo iound that the number of farms has moro than trebled during the forty years. Tho increase of population has been very great, for, as a rule, each of tho small farms of Flanders supports a family. To tho political economist, thopictmo of those frugal and industrious people living comfortably on their little holdings, is most attractive. It uioaiirf population and lcvenuc. To another cla^, of whom Jjihhop AJoorhouso, of Melbourne, may bo taken as spokesman, the idea of getting people grouped together in this way has powerful attractions. They bco in it the advantages of city wtfch niral life. Wo also Would like to see it : and if the system woro suitable, would bo amongst tho first to hail its growth, and to aid it by furnishing tho practical details most likely to aid its progress. But, for various reasons the small farm systom of Belgium is quite impracticable and unsuitable for the colonies ; and, if over the idea of Bishop Moorhouse to '« burst up the farms of 200 ana 300 acres, and divide them hits tens and twentios," should make 3uch headway as to carry such a .schemo info effect, those whe may bo induced to settle in numbers upon such bits of land, will not be likely to bless the impractical >lo enthusiast who led them astray. The conditions attendant upon successful farming in Belgium are different cntiicly from those accessible in the colonies, with the execution of the Miia.ll body ahcculy rcforicd to who supply the local maikcts. That supply could he easily overdone ; and, in any case, to succeed in such a business requires skill and business tact that arc not acquired by merely purchasing apiece of land, or listening to an address on small farms. Lot anyone desirous of seeing the manner of men who succeed with small bits of land in the colonies visit some of the larger markc&s. lie will find that those who supply them have boon at the business irom youth up. From what we hear of Belgian small farms, tha people who occupy them are much the same as our market gardeners. Their produce are eggs, poultry, butter, chicory, colza, and \ arious seeds. 01 late years, the tendency of Belgian fanning has been for eggs, poultry, and butter, London is their [jreat market, and in that city of wonders baskets of eggs, and little tubs of butter, for the supply of families, arc offered for sale as they were packed iipon the farms of Flanders. Possibly our dairy pcox>lc could learn from them now. But, wore it not for the markets available in London, there is no probability that the Belgian small farm system could have developed as it has. It is a mistake to suppose that those peoplo aro becoming wealthy in proportion to the extension of their small farms. They aro a very frugal and industrious peoplo. They pay enormous rent for the land thoy till. The manner in -which the land is tilled may be understood from the enormous quautities of guano, bone dust, and other manures used. The yearly consumption of guano alone exceeds £100,000 ; and bone dust and " offal guano" from Australia finds a market there. But what practical man can suppose that we are ripe for such a system upon a large scale. We have other advantages, though. In the Merino sheep, the colonial farmer has a stand-bye equal to the best known to Belgian farming. It is no mere figure of speech to say that no small portion of the mishaps which have met farming in the colonies have arisen from the semi-preju-dice which, during a long scries of years, was associated with sheep in the minds of the farming 'classes here. For money product, few. things surpass wool. It is as good as gold to tlie grower, aud as good to the man who shears a few score as to him who shears tens of thousands. Wool is always in demand ; and it is highly encouraging to >the fanning classes that the better sorts of combing -wools (the very sort most suitable .for 'colonial farmers) are in better demand than ever. Nor is there any likeliliobd of that demand falling off. Sheep.farming, however, can f never >go * > ha'jul hand • with ten and twenty^acrepatchesiof land.^ One 'hundred facres pat '%afei,( - 'aye«, lfeces-' .'Bary, Two hundred, tor ©vpn three^ huiidred or more, are still better, ifjith'e owner has' Hhe ,meam o'f ', forking such ~p.reas properly.; From ' his^sheeo'; tlic fanner geJij | n»anVre,'^rV^tt^^pp^vaad meat., iWnen<he feeds r |to6)^^ll^4a^ 1;) ie fafme¥,w^6 4^u|titat|#M*^S^si^i6

all is increased in quality, value, and quantity. Hence our reason for advocating sheep for the colonial farmer, and for trustinc that no theoretical notions will ever induce bodies of people to settle upon little bits of land to starve. The true small farm of the colonies is large enough to enable the fanner to keep a small Hock of sheep.