December 29, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
561 
IWl 
CHRISTMAS WEATHER, 
CUSTOMS, and PORTENTS 
-x- 
A CLEAR sky, crisp roads, with keen exhilarating air would appear 
to indicate the typical Christmas weather that the majority 
wish to see ; and such it has been during the festal period now, 
like all things, passing away. With a breezy air without, the 
bright fires within become the more cheerful, and in mansion, villa, 
cottage, and bothy there have been healthfully joyous gatherings 
in which our readers have pleasantly shared ; and there are more 
similar festivities to follow after the closing of the Old Year, in 
welcome of the opening of the New, according to the customs of 
localities. 
It is well that the greatest possible number should close the old 
year happily, and enter on the new cheerfully ; and one of the best 
features of the times in which we live is to see the increasing 
disposition that prevails on the part of the well-to-do section of 
the community to see some appropriate way to help to make the 
most needy rejoice on at least one day in their hard and anxious 
lives. It is pleasant, too, to note the mutual amenities of life 
exercised between and among families and friends in the form of 
mementos and warm greetings incident to the season. These in 
the aggregate not only make the world happier for the time, but 
their good influences linger like the refrain of a pleasant melody 
that is impressed on the mind. All this is good, both in its 
immediate effect and future tendency. Good wholesome sentiment 
lightens the toil of a work-a-day world and aids the wheels of life 
to turn the more smoothly. 
A daily paper, in some notes on Christmas weather, has 
unearthed an old saw from the “ Shepherds’ Kalendar : “ If 
the sun shines clear and bright on Christmas day, it promises a 
peaceful year, free from clamours and strife, and foretells much 
plenty to come ; but if the wind blow stormy towards sunset, it 
betokens sickness in the spring and autumn quarters. The sun 
did shine “ clear and bright ” over the greater part of our island 
home on Sunday last, and the wind did not “ blow stormy in 
the evening ; but the sun set in a quiet calm. Would that this 
were a portent of the future—a year “ free from clamours and 
strife, of plenty to come.” Many will fear that the ancient 
presage is too good to be true, and that the old saw is out of date. 
Some there are who foresee li clamour” in the coming year, 
as has been experienced in the past season, and it would be 
difficult to make others believe that there is “ plenty ” in store 
for them, and especially for those who engage in agricultural, 
not to say horticultural operations. We seem to be passing 
through a period of “ risings,” and the latest development is in 
the sphere of agriculture. Farmers are in trouble from the old 
cause—low prices, and it is true that those for Wheat and grain 
generally have never been so low before. But the “ distress is 
no new feature. Even so long ago as 1804, with Wheat at G2s. 
a quarter, complaints of agricultural distress through low prices 
were so widespread that a Committee of the House of Commons 
was appointed to inquire into it. Again, from 1821 to 1828 we 
find nothing but reports of “ extreme distress and great agitation 
among farmers,” with Wheat ranging from 56s. to 68s. a quarter, 
and House of Commons’ committees were busy in seeking the 
cause for the trouble. Coming nearer, we find that in 1833 
agricultural distress was mentioned in the King’s speech in 
opening Parliament, and another Committee appointed. Wheat 
No. 653.— Vol. XXV., Third Series. 
had then fallen to 52s. lid. a quarter. It fell to 48s. 6d. in 1836, 
and a Committee of the House of Lords was formed to inquire 
into the “ extreme distress ” prevailing ; but then when the price 
of Wheat rose to upwards of 50s. in 1844 the report is 1 distress 
of farmers, destitution of labourers, and incendiarism.” Many 
of our readers can well remember the turbulence of that time, 
never to return again, we hope. 
Agricultural distress would seem to be perennial, and in 
some respects not a little inexplicable. It is with us now, and 
we regret it extremely. What is known amongst growers of food 
and manufacturers of articles as overproduction leads to periodical 
depression in various trades, and compels those who are engaged 
in them to change their methods or succumb. It is the same 
in the raising of crops or stock, and changes and modifications 
both on the part of farmers and landlords become inevitable. 
Having regard, then, to existing facts we are not sanguine that 
the late fine Christmas weather will prove the precursor of tran¬ 
quillity, and “ plenty to come,” or at least to come quickly. 
That a better state of things will eventually be brought about 
may be regarded as certain, but in the meantime many persons 
engaged on the land will find it hard to live. New methods will 
force themselves to the front, and artificial obstacles of a remov¬ 
able kind will be brushed aside when the country demands their 
removal. Meanwhile those farmers will act the wisest who do the 
best that can be done under the existing circumstances. They 
are simply competitors with producers in other lands, and must 
strive incessantly to excel them both in the bulk and excellence of 
their produce. Do they do this now ? As a body we fear they do 
not. There is great room for improvement, and a few enterprising 
spirits are showing the way. Our land, taken in the bulk, is 
capable of far higher yields than are obtained from it, and a great 
increase in the value of food products ought to be, and will be, 
forthcoming in due time as necessity compels to renewed effort on 
more intelligent lines. Exhausted land and low farming on old 
stereotyped methods is the road to ruin ; superior cultivation, 
enriched soil, and well managed crops the surest path to recover 
the lost supremacy. 
Farmers will have to take a lesson from our best gardeners in 
the cultivation of the soil ; then, with the best methods of stocking, 
cropping, and distribution, and generally making the best of their 
resources, better results will surely, if slowly, follow. Only the 
very best workers in gardening can realise anything like a satis¬ 
factory return for their outlay and labour ; the impoverished and 
lethargic, who adopt slip-shod methods, being bound to collapse 
sooner or later, and in the meantime the land runs out, not to 
be easily restored. It is just so with farmers. Capital, in pro¬ 
portion to the extent of their obligations, knowledge, energy, 
sound judgment, and keen business capacity, are the requisites of 
success in these keen competitive days, and in the absence of those 
qualifications it is doubtful if any possible fiscal changes, including 
further reductions in reasonable rents, will suffice to bring 
prosperity. 
What we desire to impress on all who are engaged in the cultiva¬ 
tion of the land, on a large scale or small, is the desirability of 
increasing its fertility—making it capable of a greater yield of 
what the community desires, and to meet the requirements of the 
public in the fullest and best possible manner. Land improvement 
should be the aim of all, and the improver will be the firstto 
benefit, while there is not much to fear in these days that he will be 
deprived of the advantages he derives by his intelligence and skill. 
We must not “ fear ” but fight the “ foreigner’’—excel him as we 
ought to do, and can do with many things in meeting the wants 
of °our population. Let those who can afford it join in any 
legitimate agitation they will in educating the public ; but the mos t 
diligent home workers will win the best share of whatever reward 
may be forthcoming from platform efforts and legislative acts. 
The present portents, the old saw notwithstanding, are not 
No. 2309. —Vol. LXXXVII., Old Series. 
