14 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE SELECT 



deep-rooted plants alternate years, also, is very important; 

 Aug. 21, 1865. and if, with this drainage, can be combined, the benefit will 

 be the more marked. 



74. What do you mean by deep-rooted plants? Turnips, 

 mangel-wurzel, and similar plants. 



75. But would not the wheat itself strike deeper, 

 provided the ploughing were deeper, and consequently 

 give greater strength to the plant? It would. But 

 alternating the crop of wheat with a crop of beans, mangel- 

 wurzel, or lucerne, would greatly improve the sub-soil for a 

 subsequent crop. 



76. In the Eastern Province there is really no occasion 

 for drainage generally ; is it not so ? I have already stated 

 in one of my published reports that paradoxical, as it may 

 appear, in this Colony drainage is not less necessary than 

 irrigation ; and this opinion I find confirmed by the obser- 

 vations of others. Within these last few days, I have had a 

 communication froii! a lady residing near Graham's Town, 

 detailing the marked benefit seen on one of the fields on 

 her husband's farm from drainage. 



77. Speaking of deep ploughing, what is your opinion ; 

 supposing that deep furrows are made between every line of 

 sowing with the drill ? It would be advantageous ; but unless 

 you have skilled ploughmen, the expense would be greater 

 than deep ploughing the whole field. 



78. But I am supposing after you have sub-ploughed, in 

 sowing your seed with the drill, you leave an open furrow 

 between each line of drill, would that not give strength to 

 the seed sown ? It would, if there be an excess of moisture 

 in the soil. I fear that otherwise, it would not, to the extent 

 of the expense incurred. 



79 Chairman.'] You suggest in your letter to the Colonial 

 {Secretary, "the establishment of an experimental farm, where 

 the probability of profit being realized by the culture of 

 different crops and the utilization of their products may be 

 tested, and whence information on practical subjects connected 

 therewith may be supplied to all requiring it," Upon what 

 scale would you recommend such an institution to be forced; 

 and what part of the country do you consider best adapted 

 for this purpose ? In an annexure to the report of the 

 Colonial Botanist for 1864, I have given in detail my views 

 of what is required on an experimental farm. I use the term 



