IN MANGAWEKA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 8

IN MANGAWEKA.

GREAT PASTURAGE AND FRUIT COUNTRY. In journeying from Mangaweka out to the 'To liapu country the other daj' I was much struck (writos our travelling.correspondent) with the splendidlygrassed hills on each side of .the road, but I also thought;that this class - of land would carry more rye. The principal grass seems to be cocksfoot, which flourishes exceedingly; still I am inclined to the opinion that, more rye 'would bo an advantage. From some inquiries T made on the way, land in some parts of the Mangaweka district seems cheap considering its carrying capacity, as several farmers told me .they, can keep two and "a. half sheep right through the winter, and do them, well,: while in odd cases' I was assured that three dry sheep'had been carried successfully. When- one hears that this class i of land sells at about „£8 ■ per acre it does surely sound fairly on tho cheap side. > One drawback to some parts of'the district is that homestead sites, are hard to find,'there - being so little' level laud.-

Mr. H. Death has recently purchased Mr.'. Tansoy's property ; ; he has had a considerable' experience iii "West Coast lands, and considers this 'district not only good sheep country, but that, compared with land of: similar ■■' carrying capacity, it is evidently good value. The soil is also evidently - well suited for 'growing fruit; apples, pears, and plums seem'to bo quite at home, while all the small fruits do remarkably well. In this connection I wa3 surprised to. learn'how rem-irkably wall strawberries do there. .1 had called in to' see Mr. Fulton-r-for many ' year*; with Messrs. Abraham and •■Williams, Marion—who has up ,a nice' block 'in the Te Kapu • country,.' aqd" was sui-p'rised to find a fair proporfiori.'.'of'plbughable land on his farm.: Mrs.Fulton snowed ;ine over her garden;' it w'as wonderful to see the splendid growth of everything. I saw'a bed-of strawberries, and was assured that they wore almost; tired of .picking, the.fruit.'., The next- farm is that of." Mr.:"A;rCruickshahkj;'who for a long time-';was man-ager-at "Overtoil,"' the - property of Mr. Arkwright. Here, ngam'strawborries'ihad been, awonderful.'crop. As for feed in- the.paddpcks,;':it :is simply wonderful.-:? •■-, .'.':;,:. '\

The next day i;'rod6'' : dbwn''Vv'airepo ; *Road, through a.'iine stretch 'of grazing country. Looking down the valley from the saddle of the high country, there is a splendid view. In the' far distanco one;sees,tho outlying portion of Mr. T. : Duncan's'"Otairi" Station. ' In front of it stands "To Kumu," the.property of Dr. Anson. 'At'tho bottom of tho valloy, and where the Watershed.Road from Hunterville.meets,the- Wairepo Road, is the fine farm of Mr. Reed. This gentleman is "■' ah 'enthusiast in fruit, and has a splendid orchard. He' has several varieties of; apples /which I had ~nevof heard'of,' hut, there. were, others; which I ;khow/<vell, ..such ' as. 'Northern..Spy. (bearing enormbus.dropsT, Ribstdh:'i?ippin.,Bostoh'Russets, .Lane's Prince Albert, Reinette du. Canada, _and many others, all in heavy bearing; while Cos's Orange Pippin does not do at, all. I was in this-same orchardsome three years' ago, and'.was intensely 's'jirprised'.,tb..,fin.d.'.a.;Gros;.C(ll!fiar grapo wjth.ripo fruit in .the ppen^air.... rjof-The.'pity of. it.is that'Hhfly arcfifteen ..njiles-'from the..railway. Fruit'-sent -to* bo 'likely r, to' b'ecome bruisedqn the journey.". Apart from this, 'I don't think I know'of any place where such highly-cqlpu.ed, fruit, and of. such perfect shape, is produced as in ■■ these ~orchards, in-'. Te .Kapu.... A.-. I'ttle lower "dora the, valley,is another farm' with a good orchard. The _owner, Mr. Norman, "is also 'an enthusiastic fruitgrower; ho has even imported trees : From-'America.. T went -specially to' seo an apple which I was told ho had, the '.'Delicious."'. It i'S: a wonder. I was sorry .it was, not ripe 'at the ,time of. my visit/but Mr. Norman told'me it is well' named. I could see for myself that it is a splendid bearer.. The soil evidently suits tho apple; "as T; never saw such ■ highly-coloured -fruit before; ■.'••, ';' ' ;