TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2360, 25 August 1887, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU.

IM some of your leaders recently you Imvo drawn attention to the fertility of our Waikato soil. I have met with a case in point recently. Mr Tierney, on the Ohimpn road, grow a wonderful crop of swedes thisyear, one of which turned the scale at twenty-four and a half pounds. He had four acres, and on half the Held ho kept twenty head of cattle for live weeks. But turnips however, are not tho only big things produced by Mr Tierney. Not long ago ho killed a pig which weighed five hundred weight; this is tho second of the same weight bred and killed by him. Ho also killed another which weighed two hundred and fifty pounds at only six months old. These were all dairy fed and were tho progeny of pigs bred originally by Mr Burke, of the Cross Roads, who is widely known for his celebrated strain of Berkshires, which all attain, with proper attention, a great size. In some of tho American States, where people go in extensively for breeding pigs, tho solo feed used is maize in the cob, with water for drink, and the results are very satisfactory. The method of storing maize there is very simple: Houses are built of upright battens, a couple of inches apart, so as to admit plenty of fresh air, tho roofs being made water-tight, and in those buildings tho cobs are stored. To got rid of tho stalks a couple of horses are yoked to a long bar of iron or a heavy piece of timber ; this is dragged over tho field, breaking down tho stalks. A lighted match docs tho rest, and the ground is ready for ploughing again. A curious fact was brought to light in tho case “ Ramsay v. the estate of the late W. J. Hurst.” In his analysis Mr Bond stated that Coral Queen and Long Island guanos were of equal value for manorial purposes. The prices of tho samples analysed were £1 10s a ton for tho former and £5 os for the latter. One would infer from this statement that tho farmer who buys the more expensive article pays tho extra fifteen shillings a ton without receiving any corresponding advantage. Mr. Bond further stated that unless tho soil contained nitrogen and potash these guanos would bo of little benefit as fertilizers. In his ignorance of agricultural chemistry, tho farmer very often wastes money in applying manures not suitable to his land. Science is now applied to every industry in tho world, and application of it to tho world’s chief industry would bo of great importance. Schools of Mines are established to win from tho earth her stores of gold. Schools of Agriculture would also materially assist in winning from mother earth her golden treasures of produce. We cannot do without either, and any system of education which would assist in developing them would bo of incalculable benefit. Wo have many excellent and practical farmers —among us, and they, I am sure, would be the first to admit the advantages which would bo gained by the application of scientific knowledge to their busmess. A knowledge of chemistry would enable them to know what class of manures were suited to their particular farms. When Mr Bond was asked if he know whether Coral Queen or Long Island guanos wore equally suitable for the Rap.giaohia land, he said ho could not say unless he analysed soil. Thou followed his statement as quoted above. [u tho “roar for retrenchment an application for a vote for an Agricultural College for Waikato would probably not be granted, but money is frittered away more uselessly than in this way. Any money spent in developing the resources of the country would be well spent even in these times of depression. Side by aide will) a grant for a school for Waikato a substantia! appropriation for the mining industry o£ tho colony \voi\ld «ot bu wasted.