TAWHARE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2249, 7 December 1886, Page 3

TAWHARE.

Thr final meeting for the season of the Tawhare Mutual Improvement Association was held yesterday. Them was a good attendance of members. The public had been asked to attend, but only one outsider put in his appearance. The subiect under discussion was " Agriculture in Waikato," and it proved a very inteieitin'g theme. There was a lively discussion on machinery. One member contended that farmers should provide themselves with ample machinery and other labour-saving appliances ; he was immediately " sat upon " bv another member, n f ho said "the desire for uiuchmuv had amounted to a cr.i/.e in these colonies ; as soon as a new machine was advertised every fanner must have it ; it would be used while there was novelty in it, and then used to stop up a. hole in a fence." There was some talk about the size of farm*, but we all know wpII enough that large holdings are the great drawback of this colony without wasting space to say why. Nearly all present seemed convinced that stock-yard mania c was very valuable for top dress-ing, but how very, very few fanners in Waikato seem to think of using it for that purpose. Some contended that it was good during winter to keep stock off paddocks that were not going to be broken up in spring ; th.U more fodder should be grown and given to stock in winter instead of driving the animals to pull the grass up by the roots, as they often do now ; that would be better for the cattle and better for the land. And lastly, it was said that if farming was to prosper in this district there must be more unity among farmers. It was thought that if a Farmers 'Association could be started it would prove a benefit to agriculturists ; the farmers might then meet and discuss the various methods of working land, of rearing stock &c, and so help one another. I think something of this kind has been mentioned in your paper before, but nothing seems to have been done in the matter. Are there no influential farmers in the district who -can and will set the thing in motion ? Surely the interest in such things that each farmer must take for his own good should make such an association a success.—(Correspondent.) >