“THE INDIFFERENT FARMER.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3279, 26 July 1911, Page 2

“THE INDIFFERENT FARMER.”

HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SUMMARY OF A NOTABLE ADDRESS. LSPECIAL. TO TIMES.] AVELLINGTON, July 25. Speaking before the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day, the president said that he had recently read a notable address on “Tlie Problem of the Indifferent Farmer.” “If,” remarked the author, “by some magic or process of regeneration, we could turn all the indifferent farmers into wide-awake progressive, up-to-date farmers, the total production would be easily doubled, and it is not beyond the reach of possibility to treble our output.” After speaking of enlarging the agricultural resources which Nature lias provided, and using means to increase production,, he goes on: ‘ls it worth our while to take hold of this expansion in real earnest, that is, as though we believe it could be done? The possibility of adding two or three hundred million dollars yearly, to onr rural income surely makes this a big problem. Let me ask right here—ls there any other problem, on the American Continent that comes into- the same class with it? A'ou gentlemen who are engaged in this field know how it is to be worked out. You know the founda-

tion courses upon which this great wealth may be built. These courses are plain and simple:— 1. Drain the soil. 2. Sow only the best seed. 3. Carefully protect and store the products of the field and orchards. 4. Feed field products only to profitable Gtock. 5. Put the finished product on the market in the best form. Tf we could in some way bring the indifferent farmer to the knowledge of those five plain convincing lines of work, we would have solved the problem; all else involved in agricultural improvement would come easily as a natunal sequence. And what a solving of other problems there would be! A 1 man iu our province who has been a farmer for many years said to me tlie other day: ‘Piusli the drainage of land, spend money cm it. If you can get all the farmers to drain their land, you will have money enough to build; school for themselves.’ Increase the incomes of the indivdual farmers, and we will have thoi means ait cur disposal to renovate, to reconstruct, to develop the rural school system along rational lines. And so we might enlarge upon this question along many lines. Put more money in the farmers’ pockets as the result of his improved work,and there will be things doing in the rural constituency that are now existent largely in the hopes and dreams of men who are. sometimes called optimists and visionaries.’ . “Education.” added the president, “is the only means we in New Zealand farmer, and we have not the means to provide it. I would not for a moment depreciate tlio value* of the practical side, it is just as important as the scientific; but whilst even on the practical side wo have much to learn, the present-day farmer has often not had the advantage which we hope the youngger generation will have in training and education in agriculture.”