THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 561, 16 July 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

SILVERHOPE .SKETCHES. c ■ I c 'SOME OF THE HOMESTEADS. \ '■'. '.' t'' ■' —. . i AND THE CROPS AND STOCK. i Having to cross a turnip paddock (writes our travelling correspondent). I-have at last ] seen'a very good crop of .turnips. They j were growing on Mr. Walter Bar.tlctt's proporty at Silvertiqpe, and, tho leaves having j been eaten off, the-bulbs'showed; up in fine , long even rows—really good turnips. I saw ( hardly any that worc'anccted : by uisca&c. it is far and away tho best crop I have seen this season. The soil in this part of the Silverhopo distriot -is eminently suited for roots, being a light, loose loam. In tho early days it was very heavy bush country abounding with rata. Mr. J. Aiken, of this district, told me that he also had a grand crop. In fact, in Silverhope, most of the farmers ] have had very good'success in this line. ,The Silverhopo estate is a block of some seven thousand' acres, formerly owned by Mr. Silver, who, I believe, lived.in the Old Country. The estate was managed for many years by Mr.-Aldworth, who took up: the homestead block -when it was sold some years ago.; It is an estate adapted to dairying on ■some of the "sections, while the more hilly portions make excellent sheep land. A good metalled road leads through 'the block, to the Ongo Road, and the estate is bounded on the east by the main road to Huntervilfo.:'Where'tie Aldworth Road functions with the Oh£o Road you turn west, and, a couple of miles further-on| strike off, up the; hill opposite the property of Mr. H. E. Ad-' denbrook, of Mangamahu. He has lately purobased Mr.. Chubbin's fine : sheep' farm, some two thousand acres. ' . . Soon the road dips, and, at a bend, a beautiful - lake comes into view. On one side there'is a bUsh-clad' hill, giving a. bit of very-picturesque scenery; on the opposite side, ■on a rise, there is the homestead of Mr. W. P. Campbell, one of the prettiest sites one could wish to see. Just behind the hduse : thero'is a steep hill .of considerable height, on which the bush has been-left, and this forms ah ; admirable background. Then right below'the house, and under, another- hill, : there; is a' second lake—if possible'more beautiful than the Altogether it, is a most- charming bit of scenery. '".-■. ■ . ■.'■■-. .','.- ' ' -r-' -■■'•! ■ ■' '■'■ ■From-here to the -Marigahoe''Valley," tho country is-all held as, sheep'farms.,,On one -'side of the.valley there .is. a large: area of land—a college reserve,, nearly, all .pastoral ; country, ; and. .true sheep land—the ■,; larger ■ portion.having once been bush and the bal- ; ance scrub.;; 'Very- little- of that ancient for- , est,now remains unfelled; :.The' : land carries a good sole of- grass, and both 'sides ipf; the ; vaUey, lie-Veil to • the sun;' Cr'utching was . going on in Mr. ,Small's shed,, sol ;had an opportunity of;seeing 'the sheep in',the 1 dis-. ,trict. ,They! were';of a good, class, and much ' cleaner than many of the; sheep on more level lahd, ; '-As,there is ino: metal in,;the valley ; the-road -is ia' ; i bit: soft, in .wet' weather, and that is putting it mildly.- However; there is nota'great deal of :traffic;-otherwise, the ' going: would-be, through, a.sea,. .of .'mud, ' though'/ in places, where there' is a,6andy .- formation,. : it is' not 'so bad.'r' ■-.-■'". ■■:'■■;'/ ;_';■■;':