LAKE MEADOWS AND PENCARROW FARMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 20

LAKE MEADOWS AND PENCARROW FARMS.

THE.BREEDING OF DRAUCHT : HORSES. WINNER OP MANY PRIZES. Mr. A. , Tocker, owner of- the wellknown Pencarrow and Lake Meadows farms, Featherstou, comes of one of the oldest pioneer families in the Wairarapa. ' Mr. J. Tocker,'his father, came to the Hutt about 1840, with Mr. .F. Molesworth, and, ho, with tho Russellsi James Donald, and the Bidwills ,were amongst tho 'first settlers in this district. His wife, the late' Mrs. E. E., Tocker, who died three years.ago, .was brought over tho Rimutakas by Mr. Henry Burling, the centenarian, at j'present residing' at Waikanao. 'Mr; Tocker resided at Tauherenikau, and .while there .represented the- first. road board in the place with Mr. Jamos Donald, and J. P." Russell. He led a very .active 'life, .but unfortunat-ely died of illness in '1872, at a comparatively, early age.'; It. is worthy of note "in connection'with the Molesworth family, r with which the Tockers arc associated, .that Pencarrow lighthouse ■ was named afterMolesworth's Pencarrow Estate, in Cornwall, England. -v-.. - '.■

Mr. A. .Tocker, who "is;-;. th'e~ybungest son of Mr. J. Tocker. take's aikeen.interest in all farm scientific Hβ served his apprenticeship ; with-Mr;-\J. Martin ; and-.wasono. of tho first to

grow rape crops in tho Wairarapa. for lamb and sheep-fattening purposes..'For the'- past twenty years he;, has made a special'study of'.breeding draught horses, inwhich he has met with a large amount of success. , ' ■■■ ■. ;; • ■'• -'•'•■- '

■So far as draught horses, Mr. .Tocker believes in the modem :aninjal—a; horse which is cast in a lighter mould than the draught which was somu'ch in vogue ;ten years ago. It was found ■that'in the majority of instances heavy horses aro too .cumbersome, more "subject' itb grease, and cannot stand -tho labour. It is interesting, to note , ' that the idoV • marid for light- draughts^ Scotland in order to; catir Vfor'-the' American trade, whero tho,.agricultural machinery is of a light nature. .At tho' .present time; Now Zealand is catering for Australia with both heavy draughts, but Mr. Tocker is, of . the opinion that the .trend, will, b'e very soon in favour of the lighter animal. ; ' Tho New Zealand trade with Australia will probably result in a- great revival of draught-horse breeding in the Dominion, '■ and Mr. Toeker's opinion of what a-good draught should be will bo interesting to'farm readers. Tho essential/points in a draught, said , Mr. •Tocke'ri'- are, first of' all, ■ good feet- and good, hocks,, flat bone...fine, silky hair, plenty of : musclo, and activity of a very, freo nature.. ~ ..The- modern; : .type,,sliouid. not v bo:,too' small./ i.Mr.,v.Tocker-.-hik' been showing:--horses =atf; tho>. various-.shows-for quite , a ntfmber of, yc'ars;''during' wliicK'- , tinio: he 'has' taken- m'any ■prizes. At the present -time ho has' in.his possession, amongst others, Lady .Bancor, Rose, Jean, and Maud. Thcso four mare's, carried off six firsts, reserve 'champion,-,-tytij,' aiidj : a pp.ssibio. points prize,\.at the at jCart-erton last month. . Tho animals were only. entered at the .last mimito,,' and were not got up for show purposes. Two of them had been previously shown at.Bunedin, and won a £10 .prize. It ; is interesting , to, no,te,that. .the. ..mare. 'Rose 'was' • awarded reserve /champion, •at,' jCarterton to-Mrs.-; Orinond's Maggie .Glen,,"whose; treatment: at the last Can-Itcrbury-.Show.appears'to hay.CjCaused adverse .■comment ■ amongst/ some breeders'^' .