124 Government Action in Matters 



severe winds. With my system of farming 1 have 

 brought much of the land up to a good state of 

 fertility — good enough to produce good crops without 

 manure, other than that partly grown in the shape 

 of turf and partly acquired from the atmosphere 

 by natural means; but there is still enough land 

 left which might be cultivated on the old system 

 so as to form a comparison with the new system 

 adopted. The farm consists of 1250 acres, and the high 

 land portion of it would be valuable for experimenting 

 as to the improvements that might be effected on such 

 mountain grazings. The Government, it is true, might 

 acquire similar land elsewhere, but before the required 

 comparison between the old and the proposed system 

 could be instituted many years would be required to 

 pass bye — at least from 10 to 12 — before the farmer could 

 be able to judge' as to the respective merits of the two 

 systems. The Board of Agriculture sent an experienced 

 ofScial to report on the project, and he did so favour- 

 ably, and I know that, besides, it was approved of by a 

 prominent member of the Department; but nothing was 

 done in the matter, which I now think is fortunate, as 

 unless the farm were managed by a practical and skilful 

 agriculturist, who had acquired tlie moderate knowledge 

 of chemistry sufficient for the purpose, it could never be 

 of the value it might become to the agricultural interests 

 of these islands. I must not, however, be surprised at 

 this want of action on the part of the Government in 

 matters relating to agriculture, as its general policy 

 seems to be to report, and do nothing but report. A 

 Committee, as I have elsewhere shown, advised that a 

 central seed testing station should be established where 

 farmei-B could, for a small fee, get their seeds tested. 

 This is a point of the greatest importance, and, indeed, 

 absolutely essential to the system of farming I have 

 initiated. The recommendation of the Committee was 

 made in 1900, but nothing whatever has been done to 

 carry it into effect. Nor, I fear, will anything be done 



