A Visit to Spring Creek Farm.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1894, Page 2

A Visit to Spring Creek Farm.

(From a correspondent.) This is the residence of Mr McDermott, four miles from Birmingham. To reach it one turns off the Kimbolton road, about a mile beyond our township. You are then on the Oroua Valley road, and of steepish grade and mo3t circuitous route is this very well metalled road. About three-quarters of a mile from the farm you branch off ihe highway tbat at present leads to Apiti. A formed but unmetalled road leads to Spring Creek. This road should be metalled at once, as two years' thirds on seven sections are in the hands of tbe local body. It is expected that at the next meeting of the Council something will be done. In the future this will be the road to Apiti. It is shorter by a mile, with easier grade, and the certainty of no slips, which were so costly last winter to the ratepayers. This really is the Oroua Valley road, having been surveyed, and tbe Engineer reporting that the site for tne bridge is the best ; where this road reaches the river. Spring Creek farm contains three hundred acres, and has been held by the owner six years. Previous to Mr McDermott taking possession of the place it was standing bush of kind usual to these parts, rimu, mairi, rata, etc. Mr McDermott did not live on the place for two years, but during this time he was preparing a home by getting seventy acres of bush down, forty of it in grass, getting some fencing done, and building a dwelling house. The four year's residence on the place has done wonders, the bush being all felled except twenty acres, some standing bush being left for shelter. Last year three acres were stumped and put in potatoes, giving the excellent yield of fourteen tons to the acre. This year ten acres are in potatoes, an acre of beans, one and a-half of peas, two acres of oats, half an acre of mangolds, an acre and a-half of orchard so useful on'every farm, all of which are doing well. Tho rest is in grass. The stock consists principally of grades and shorthorns, it being the intention of the owner to go in for milking strains, milk now being sent to the factory from ten cows. The first month's supply averaged seven shillings per cow per week. At this rate the ten cows will bring in £3 10s per week, thus showing the benefit to the settler of the factory. But what surprised me was how well pleased the owner was with his calves, fed on the skim milk from the factory, no meal being used at aH. I must confess they looked well. Pigs are also kept, Berkshires being most fayored. In this line it is the owner's intention to make a name, his pigs bringing good prices so far. The preference for this strain is owing to the fact that they require little care, and show good results. No difficulty is found in selling them locally. One purchaser paid 20s each for two with the pleasing result of £10 worth of hams and bacon — not a bad investment. The hundred acres are stocked with sheep, Lincoln pure being found tbe best, the fleece being heavy. Some of tho 4-tooth ewes go to lljlb of wool, and hoggets up to 81b. The average from the latter was 71b. After the hrst winter, that is the hogget stage, there is no trouble with tbem, not many deaths occurring even in bad weather. This is owing to constantly removing them from one paddock to another, and winter feeding. The sheep are daily fed with hay. Lungworm is unknown. Ido not think the place is overstocked. Many settlers overstock their places, with disastrous results. Twelve months ago exactly I visited this place, and I am now reminded that old Father Time has treated the family. Where the old honse stood a larger and more finished one meets the eye. It is indeed a nice house, and contains nine lofty rooms, the height of them being twelve feet. The whole is cheery and comfortable in everyway, and design pleasing. All the necessary out-buildings are on the place, including a new woolshed, 45x45, with pens surrounding it.