WAIKATO FARMERS, CLUB (CAMBRIDGE BRANCH).

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2855, 30 October 1890, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS , CLUB (CAMBRIDGE BRANCH).

The monthly meeting of the above club was held on Monday evening. Present: Messrs G. E. Clark (chairman). J w<. Fisher, J. S. Bond, J. Anderson. R. Fish«r, J. Forrest, W. Allen, J. Fisher jiinr., T. W. Hicks .T. Webber, A. Forrest. W. Vosper, H. K. Hvatt. 11. Reynolds. Wm. Scott, T. Wells, W. Anderson. W. Wallace jnnr., J. Arnold, S. Seddon and Rev. C. 11. Garland.

The, minutes of the previous meeting wore renl and confirmed.

Nku- Mkmbehs.—The following were elected members of tho club :—Messrs .T. U. Scott.. Alfred Ivub.-!.-, .J no. Ferensoii, Angus McKinnnn. S. (!. Cr.wan, W. Thornton, .las. Tiirnbiill anil Major Wilson.

TllK IjMtouit Movbmkst. — Circulars from tin: P.ipatoitoi Farmers' Association and 11)0 O.iinarn K.irm.srs" and Kmployors , Club wer« road. The discussion of this matter had boKii adjourned from the previous meeting— The Chairman thought it won'd be unwise of the Waikato farmeis to take up thj labour questiun ; it had not affected them at present, and hi! did not think they should throw down the gauntlet and disturb tho good feeling that now existed between employers and employee*. —It was resolved : That the club dons not see its way to support either the Papatoitoi Farmers' Association or tho Oamaru Fanners' and Eiuployeis'Club at the piesent time.

Faumint. Ixtkkests. —A letter from the Mangere Partners' Club—also adjourned from the previous meeting—was then discussed. It advocated the forming of a Farmers' Union for the better protecting of farming interests, and for the obtaining, if possible, remunerative prices for farm produce. Tt pointed out that such a union would have little or nn influence unless it embraced all farming districts in the country. It also asked for suggestions on the mutter.—Tho Chairman agreed with the movement and thought the clubs throughout the country should affiliate and endeavour to get better prices.—Mr Hyatt thought the fanners should hue unions. The labour unions had benelitted the labouring classes, which should teach the farmers a lesson. At 11 previous meeting he had suggested that the farmers' clubs shouN federate, on similar lines to that adopted by the Educational In atitnte, of which institute lie handed tho chairman a copy ot rules. Mr J. Fishnr took the Mangere letter to mean that a new Farmers' Union must be formed that would be all powerful; he could not agree with that but would like to havo the present clubs federate— Mr Wells said thev might have a " Millar" at tho head of affairs and get landed in difficulties if that was the case. Small clubs should not give up their identity.—Mr T. W. Hicks said it was useless farinars trying to attempt to control the prices in Xeiv Zealand until tli3y have consulted the market of the world, England, [t was easy to talk of getting belter prices, but more difficult to get them. A little time since—when the strike scare was on— a storekeeper asked him ISs for a 1001b. bag of Hour ; but did he buy it '( Not he ! He bought a bag of wheat and had it ground into meal, made into bread and ate it bran and all. If people could not get beef or mutton at a reasonable urice they would eat something else. Mr Hyatt then moved and Mr Forrest seconded : That this club sympathise with the efforts ot the Mangare Farmers' Club in their endeavour to biinz about an amalgamation of the farmin" industry.—Carried.—The Rev. C. H. Garland thought Mr Hyatt's proportion did not Ro far enough. The Mangere Club asked for suggestions on (he matter, he therefore moved : That the Executive Committeu and Mr Hyatt discuss the matter, and bring up their suggestions nt tho next meeting of the club. Mr T. W. Hicks thought one suggestion should bo that Snipping Companies should reduce the freight on farming produce, and another that the institutions that money to farmers on produce shipped to England, should do so at a reasonable rate.—The motion was then seconded by Air Forrest and agreed to. Lime fou Aobicui.tuhal Puhposks.— in accordance with notice ot motion given at tho previous meeting. Mr Forrest introduced this matter, arid said he was sorry they could not go fully into the question at the present timo. The notice of motion indicated that he would be prepared to suggest some scheme for obtaining lime at a reasonable cost, for uso upon the land ; but since last meeting he had found that that part of tho question would have to be adjourned till a later date, beoauae tho limestone country from which they must draw the supply is at present, in the hands of the natives. The Club should endorse the action of the Hamilton branch, in asking the Minister of Lands to obtain at least 500 acres of the limestone land abutting on the railway line as soon as possible, for the lime-burning industry. Candidates for Parliament should also be asked to include in their bill of fare the encouragement and fostering of tho agricultural industry, as well as the mining one, and to assist tin) farmers in obtaining lime at as low a rato as possible. From the principles of agriculture ho learned that everything we grow requires lime. Seventeen tnn» of turnips carries away 7!lb. of lime ; two tous of clovor, Stilb., and so on ; but the great uhb of lime is t<; set free fond more nsetul to the crops than lime itself, by doeaying organic matter in the soil. Then again caustic or fresh lime acts upon the dormant mineral matter of the soil, in the yet unbroken fragments of rock, and sets free those substances to supply food to the plant. In buying lime the farmer should see that he gets fresh bunit lime, and not lime and water, such as much of that now upon the market. Why should the farmer buy water and then pay carriage upon it? One tun of frosh burnt lime would weigh L'ti cwt. when slacked, wriich is done loy throwing water upon it or by leaving it exposed to the atmosphere f«r n few days. Slacked lime swells to nearly twico the sizo of fresh ; and again, why should farmers go to tho expense of sacks for holding lime. A few weeks ago he had a very interesting and instructive conversation with M» Pillion, who told him that a large su>n of money had been lost in New Zealand by people building kilns for lime-burning that were too large. The inside of a kiln at the largest part should not be more than aeven feet six inches in diameter, the hoight being about twenty feot. Tt would hn nn

advautage to build it in ;ui embankment provided provision was mads to keep damp away. Mr Forrest fnvllißi- stated tlmt Mr Fiillon bad kindly ottered t> let tho Farmers' Club have the use of a ant of plans and specifications of a lime Uiln that ho had found to answer perfectly. He then concluded by moving a resolution endorsing the action of the Hamilton Branch in applying to the Minister of Lands urging him to secure a portion of limestone land fr.,m the natives Tho motion was carried, there being a lengthy discussion as to the varum* uses of lime, many references being madu to the extensive use of it in sunie district* nf the Old Country, while in others it is not urad at all. That it is beneficial to wheat was demonstrated in a somewhat peculiar manner by Mr ,7as. An''er;on, who stated, that after picking his wheat tho previous year, he was anxious to Ket it sown, but found a portion of it was too damp to work freely through the drill. In order to dry it lie dusted it with lime, and to see if it made any difference to tho crop, he was careful to sow that portion down the centre of a paddock. The effect was most marked, the wheat being a darker and more healthy colour than the other portions of the uaddock, right up to the time it began to change colour by ripening. Indeed the contrast was so marked that many individuals when passing had asked him what he had done to cause the difference.

Salt.—Mr Forrest wished the Club to advertise for tenders for supplying five ton lots of salt for agricultural purposes, but upon it being pointed out that it was against the rules, he let the matter drop. Analysis of Soils.—ln accordance with notice of motion given, Mi- Hyatt moved that a Committee be formed to collect representative samples of soils to be. forwarded to Wellington or the Agricultural College at Canterbury, for analysis. He said the Government analysis that had been kindly published in The Waikato Times did not prove of much service tr> Cambridge, as only one of the samples w?s from tli.it district, and the spot from which it was taken ennld not be ascertained.--The ICxecutive Committee and Mr Hyatt were appointed to collect samples, Mr Hyatt kindly undertaking to see they wore properly packed and forwarded.- —Mr Jnn. Fisher said he had been particularly unfortunate in the matter of soils for analysis At different times samples had been taken fr.mi his farm by Professor Black, Mr Lamb (when agent for tho Freezing Company), Mr Dick and Professor Thomas, but there the matter apparently ended for he had not received an analysis from any of them.

Accounts.—Tins following account w<l3 passed for payment: J. S. Bond, £3 12s (id.

Notices ok Motion.—The Chairman to move: That .1 horse parado and show of yoimg stock lie held At Cambridge in September in each year.

Mr H. Reynolds: That at next meeting ho will give a paper in " The Dairy Cow, and Some of Her Points of Usefulness." This concluded the business.