AGRICULTURAL SOIL. 13 



can be seen. It is neither profitable to the farmer, grazier, 

 nor gardener. Worn-out land is a millstone round the 

 neck of the man who owns it ; and neglected land is but a 

 stage better. We can only bring it into fertility by clean 

 cultivation and manuring. 



Under the most favorable circumstances, land 

 improvement is costly, and still favours him who has 

 the best to operate on. This we find to be true all over 

 the country, in the grain-growing as well as the sugar- 

 producing districts. Drainage is amongst the valuable of 

 land improvements; but it is costly, and we would give 

 the preference to the land that requires least artificial 

 drainage. As a rule, soil that is liberally mixed with sand, 

 is less costly in working than more stiff or clayey soils. 

 We would also give the preference to land that will allow 

 most horse labor, and has no more fall than is necessary to 

 carry off water readily. The less it is cut up with gullies 

 or water-courses, the more profitably it can be worked. 



To Make Agriculture Pay. So to get to the first 

 requirements for comfort and success, we see that agricul- 

 ture, look at what branch of the occupation we may, to 

 make it pay, must be followed as a business ; that skill, 

 capital, and perseverance are all necessary. It is one of 

 the serious mistakes in connection with colonial life that 

 men enter upon grazing and fanning without any special 

 training or knowledge of what they undertake. Agricul- 

 ture is the only business into which men enter largely 

 upon such terms, and it is no matter of surprise, therefore, 

 that many fail, and that others complain about the want of 

 success. When a man has plenty of money he may be able 

 to buy experience, but it is very expensive. In other cases 

 men commence without either capital or skill, but with 

 strength, courage, and perseverance, and above all with 

 tact to take advantage of every circumstance in their favor 

 that presents itself. They gradually make headway. The 

 colonies are dotted with successful men who have com- 

 menced in that way. They are certainly more numerous 

 than the successful men who have purchased their experi- 

 ence. But at a glance it will be seen that the talents thus 

 brought to bear would have gone far to carry n man 



