The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1831, 1 April 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and e>;act justice to all men, Ot \vhatsoc\ er state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Pi ess the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbnbed by gain.

stances, give a larger money return per acre, as in the case of pota'oes, but the market for these is limited, and, consequently, if tho crop were a more general one, would be easily over-stocked, while those who have ever had to do with the- exportation of potatoes, the loss in keeping-, the expenses attendant on sorting and handling, the heavy carriage and freight, will at once admit that the venture is one of great i\sk one! often of moro or less loss. Oats, t io, may yield a much heavier crop than wheat, but in their case farmers in W.iikato before now have found fchiit heavy yields of oats do not necessarily moan 'arge cash returns. Indeed, it is only some three years ago that the O'\t crop was so plentiful in these colonies that this grain not only fetched a very low price, but was almost unmarketable. Many, indeed, will recollect that it was this circumstance which gave a \ery great im petus to wheat grow ing- in Waik it >. Wheat, it was said, even if low in price, was always in demand, and could readily bo turned into cash. This is so, and if for no other reason wheat will always take a leading pace amongst our agricultural productions. If, therefore, wheat is to become the mainstay of farming in Waikato, its production must needs be carri> d on under the most favourable circumstances We have not the rich bottom lands of America, and vast tracts of new land ready for the plough to pass on to as we exhaust our present cultivations. We must so use our lands as to maintain and even increase their productiveness, or we become impoverished with them. True, the average yield of wheat in New Zealand, and especially in this part of it, is a largo one, but without systematic farming it cm neither be increased nor maintained. Much of our agricultural lvid — we do not refer to swamp, but hill sides, even, - — needs under-tillage, and the deeper and more thorough tillage which would follow. We shall leave this subject, however, for another occasion. What we would now urge upon our farmers is the necessity for more generally introlucing some system of rotation of crops, which, while it will enable them to give a large proportion of their farms to wheat culture, will at the same tune maintain and increase th-ir power of production. In the old country no ni'in would dream, save under the most exceptional circumstances, of taking two crops of the same kind in two succ s-sive years from the same land, while the principle has been so thoroughly worked out as to show what particular crops are the be->t preparations for their successors, as in the case of beans, where the material left in the soil during the growth of that plant is the very food for the wheat crop which always follows it. Nor is one system of rotation of crops alone followed. There are as many different lotations almost as there are varieties of soil. But whether a four course or a six course system of rotation be adopted, and whatever may be the particular crops grown in the several rotations, one fundamental principle underlies them all — that green and white crops shall alternate, the green forming th< j preparation for the white crop which succeeds it. The simplest of all rotations, perhaps, is that known as the four course system. Firsc year, turnips fed off; second year, barley, sown with clover and rye grass ; the third year (and sometimes the fourth) the land is kept in grass, which is both cut for hay and grazed ; and the fourth, or last year, w heat. The swi dcs or turnips assisted with artificial manures, and fed off upon the ground, ensure good crops for the rest of the course, and the clover lea being more or le-^s fed off, i^ a good preparation for the last and most important crop of the series — w heat. Here, however, where barley is not giown, nor likely to bo grown in any quantity, an oat crop, as it sometimes does at home, might take its place, where it is decided to grow clover and grass for the crop of the third, or third and fourth year. Again, iL is not necessary here, as at home, that a whole year should be devoted to the raising of the turnip crop. In this climate it is quite easy to steal such a crop after grain, and yet save the season for the next year's crop of grain or potatoes, w hile often grass and clovers are sown with the turnips, as at home they are sown with barley, and could be fed off for a couple of years, leaving- the land in grand condition for potatoes auc [ wheat before being- sown with turnips again. Here, indeed, with a different climate, and under altered circumstances, our fanners may strike out a rotation best adapted to their requirements. A rotation of crops they must, however, have, whatever its character may be. There can be no departure from this point. The rule so far must be a cast-iron one if they hope to maintain the fertility of their lands, and make sure of a profitable crop of wheat on their lands once in every three or four years. No doubt many of our settlers have experimented in this direction, and others will do so. What we would ask them, for the common good, to do is to use our columns for the publication of their experiences. If they would do this one or more valuable rotations of crops for the soil and climate of Waikato would be elaborated, which would do much to place fanning 1 upon a sounder, surer, and more business-like basis. At present there is nothing sure about it. One year there is a run upon oats, another year upon potatoes, and then perhaps sheep farming or cattle grazing are all the rage, to bo given up sooner or later for inme new venture. There is no systematic cultivation of the soil, which consequently becomes deteriorated in the long run, and there is move often logs than profit in the 1 ' i

ceaseless change from one speculation to another. Farming, nnd no wonder that it does so, ge's a bad name, and because there is no certain return, and therefore no fixed annual value on an acre of ground, the land itself commands no settled valuo in the market. Thore is no standard by which its value can be iixml. Systematic farming, and the consequent steady and profitable growth of a staple production such as wheat would give stability and certain returns to farming-, and a fixed value to oir farms, w Inch at present thoy do not possess.

The poll to determine whether the W.upa County Council shall borrow the sum of C'iOO for main road purposes w ill be taken at Ohaupo t )-day. The prospectus of the North New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative>Associ;ition will be found in our .advertisement columns. The result of the poll of ratepayers .it Moii ins ville on Friday was, as expected, in favour of borrowing the £400 under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The Great World Circus performed at Te Awamutu on Saturday night to a very laige and appieciative audience. Last night the company appeared at Cambi ldge, and will give another performance theie this evening. The name of Mr R. Gillett was inadveitently omitted fioni the list of tho managing committee of the North New Zealand Kanneis' Co-operative Association, published in our last. An old offender named John Warburton was brought up at the Hamilton Police Court, yesterday, charged with di unkennels, and dischaigod on condition of his lea\ ing the town. We are informed that the reason why Te Wheoio got angry and refused to accompany the v kiner" to England was that Te Tuhi and some others at the meeting gave it as their opinion that the Major wished to make money out of the trip at Tawhiao's expense. "Hine lllfe lacriniie." Mr Gillett's National Hotel, Cambridge, basiecently undergone very extensn c lnipioveuunts, and lias been thoroughly renovated. It has also been suitably painted, and as a building is ceitainly one of the most attractive in Waikato. On our fourth page will be found a repoit of the third annual meeting of the Canteibiuy Fanners' Co-operative Association, held in October last. We epitomised the lepoit at the time, and now republish it foi the benefit of those who contemplate joining the North Now Zealand Association. The hearing of the case of the petition against the election of Messrs (Jane, Fisher, Reynolds and Monis, as licensing conmiissionei-i for the distnet of Pukekuia, will be proceeded with at the ii.M. Couit, Cambridge, to-day, befoio Mr H. W. Noithcroft, R.M., Mi- Hay will appear in snppoit of the petition, and Messrs NVhitakei and Campbell for tho candidates. The case has created much inteiest. The first meeting of the third session, ot the Cambridge Mutual Improvement Association, will be held in the Court-house, Cambridge, on Thursday evening next, when a full attendance of member^ is lequosted. There is a possibility of an adjournment being till after the Easter holidays. The Association has a substantial balance in hand from last session. The unfortunate man William Anderson, who attempted suicide at O\foid on the 21st Match, was brought befoie the couit at Cambiidge on Saturday morning last, and oidcied to find secuiity for his future good behaviour, two sureties of £2") each, and himself £30, or in default six months impugnment. Up to the piesent he ha* been unable te find the necessary secuiity. At the R M. Court, Te Awamutu, on Thursday, before Mr Noithcroft, R. M., and Mensis Ruthcifoid and Taylor, J.P., August Foikett was charged with burning a cottage belonging to D. Bartels. Constable Gillies prosecuted, and Mr W. M. Hay appeared for the pii«oner. After healing the evidence, the bench was of opinion that theie was not sufficient proof to warrant a committal, and discharged tho piisonor. Thrashing operations are now occupying tho attention of the fanners of the Pukei mm and Pukekura disti lets. Ah we stated in a previous issue, the crops in this pait of the distiict this season are of an exceedingly encoui aging nature, and in sjveral cases the very handsome yield of 40 bushels to the acic has been obtained. A few of the fanners in the district have •stiff ci cd consideiably through not having had their stacks pioperly thatched when the wet weather came on, and likewise tlnough too early stacking. We hope they will take the experiences of the piesent as theii guide in the future. Owing to pressure on our space we are obliged to hold over our report of the public meeting, held at the Hamilton Public Hall last night, to consider what steps should be taken in legard to the affcuis ot the hall and the ban: 1 . His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and thei c was a large attendance of the public. After discussion, tho following resolutions weie passed :— (1) "That a committee, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Messrs R. Biadley, S. Tucker, and T. G. Sandes, be appointed to confer with those who have an interest in the band instruments, to rep )it at a futuie public meeting " (2) That the Hamilton Borough Council be requested to take the matter, brought forward by Councillor Yon Sturiujr, (le the hall) up and deal with the same as they may deem best." A correspondent from Panama wiitesto a London weekly :— Ever since the cutting of the ne" - Canal was commenced the effect has been most marked on the inhabitants of this country. From habits of gi eat apathy, they seem to have acquiied much of the enterprise of the illustrious engineer, Old mines have been le-opened, and woiked v\ith more or less success, and it is confidently expected that the cutting will disclose new and very rich ones. Another mdustiy, the peal fishery, has been most energetically pushed, and with great success. A monster pearl was found the other day, which rivals in si<se most of the historic ones. It is named the '" Lssseps," and take-, its place amongst the lergest known to tho world. I believe it has been sent to London to Benson's the jeweller. Trade has received a wondeiful impetus, and the country owes much to the enterprising Frenchman. The usual monthly meeting of the Waitoa Road Board was held last Saturday, their being present, Messrs Chepmell, Gould, Pair, Seddon, and Buck. The engineers, Messrs Sandes and Napper, were also in attendance. Mr T. Russell's contract is in a forward state now, but as it should have been finished the board declined to give even a progress payment befoie the completion of the works. .Satisfactory progiess was recorded on most of the other works. Tho tender of Pat. Bolton was accepted for carting gravel and clay near the Waihou township, gravel, Is 4d per yard ; clay, Is 2d. Accounts amounting to £511 odd were passed for payment. The board decided to write to the authorities, and strongly urge the necessity there is of making the road deviations at the railway crossings on the Thair.es- Waikato line something better than a mere apology for a road. General Stone, the chief engineer of the ship canal across tho peninsula of Florida, has made a report to the directors, in which he states that the length of the proposed cutting will be 139 J English miles. It will be wide enough to admit of two steamers of the largest size passing through it abreast and he estimates the entire cost of tho work at 49,000,000 dollars. When the canal is coiti plated, it will lessen the distence between ]New Orleans and Liverpool or New York by 412 miles. General Stone and his assistants have finished the preliminary survey. The question the company has to settle is whether trie traffice in prospect promises to be sufficiently remunerative to justify the large necessary outlay in the execution of the scheme. The chief engineer, in support of his opinion that the scheme will be a commercial success, points out that, in addition to lessening the distance between the chief ports on the Gulf of Mexico and Europe and the Atlantic seaports, the canal will effect a saving of from three to seven days in time. In the case of large ocean steamers this will be equivalent .to a reduction of expense amounting to 500dol in wages, food, and so forth in addition to from 300, to 500 dollars a day for' fuel. Moreover the Straits of Florida are among the jn,osj darjgeroiw through which, a yb,s,ss

can pass, and fche annual loss by shipwreck there is very large. Tho sa\ing m insurance oi vessels and cargoes will amount to from Ito 1$ per cent when the canal is finished. Further a large increase of shipping engigedinthe conveyance of cattle from Texas, and maize and cotton from the States on the Lower Mississippi, would be cirtain to follow. General Stone states that tho highest point through which the canal would have to be cut is considerably lower than the loftiest point through which the Suez Canal was canied.