THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK AT HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2543, 27 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK AT HOME.

Sir James Fjsroussojc, M.P., was present at the dinner in connection with the Carrick Farmers Society's Show, and in proposing the toast of the Society said it was one of the earliest societies of the kind in the country, and it had been the means of doine great good. It had been well managed, and while it had been liberal in giving premiums, it had a capital of £1000. Passing on to the general outlook for farmers, be said he was glad to think that there was a certain spring in prices in some articles which were a staple in this district, and he hoped this rise in prices might be the promise of better things. It coulrl not surely be that the most important interest in the country was to fail, and be. a thing of the past. At all events, they were not so badly off in Ayrshire as in some counties. He had been in an English county the other day, where he had seen farms 500, 800, and 1000 acres actually loft to go to waste, and the farm buildings boarded up. They were not come to that in Ayrshire, because, happily, dairy produce always commanded a certain price in the market, and he hoped that prices would be remunerative again. He hoped the appointment of a Minister of Agriculture might work for good, and yet he did not like to expect too much from any man. Unless they could have better prices, all the Ministers in the world would not make the farmers better off. Better means of manufacture and better quality would undoubtedly make the farmer better able to hold his own. He was told that farmers were getting lod for fresh butter—that was certainly a very fair pricc—and it was very much better produce than the Danish butter. What was wanted was that they should bring every appliance that science could devise to improve their produce. The Minister of Agriculture and Board of Agriculture were not yet quite established, the bill fur creating the Minister and the ollice having been continued till the autumn session, which, like the beautiful future, wa3 to do so much for them. In conclusion he hinted that they ought not to let Mr Goschen return from his contemplated visit to the district without questioning him fully on several of these matters. —N.B. Agriculturist.