AGRICULTURE IN OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1572, 1 May 1874, Page 201

AGRICULTURE IN OTAGO.

“An Occasional Rambler” writes thus to the Tuapeka Time's: — On Monday last I had some business which took me to Breakneck and Glencoe towards Greenfield Station; and on descending the hill from Glencoe, I shall never forget the sight which was presented to my vision-—field after field of cut grain came into view, and the more I gazed upon them the more closely seemed the stocks to be ranged together. I could not believe the earth could produce such an increase, especially as I had been told these spurs were too bleak to grow cither potatoes or corn. On reaching the foot of the spurs, my doubts were set at rest by corning upon a steam thresher in full swing threshing wheat. As these machines were now to me, I cannot tell whether this one was good, bad, or indifferent; but this much I can say, everything was going on smoothly, from the carter driving in the sheaves to the sewing up of the bags. The process appeared to ray inexperience very complete. It was now 12 o’clock, and the engine stopped for dinner, when I was kindly asked to share with them, which invitation I frankly accepted, and, to bo honest, I was prepared to do a snack. While doing justice to the good things, I asked a question now and then about the crops, the quality and quantity to the acre. One stated there would be 50 bushels, another 60 bushels to the acre, which rather surprised me; not on account of the quantity, but on account of people holding out that farming don’t pay, I knew nothing of the price; but presuming that Mr Smith, the owner of Greenfield estate, gets the present quotations, it must pay him handsomely. I think the production will testify to the quality of the soil, as well as to the good fanning which Mr Smith is famed for. I certainly learned more that dinner hour about wheat thou I

ever heard of before ; and while they spoke admiringly of their wheat, I quietly thought to myself that their mutton was better, for its fine flavor has not gone from my mouth yet. The next day I pursued my homeword route by Tuapeka Mouth, where I met with a few acquaintances. There is nothing exciting there, the saw mill being the only support of the place now, as the majority of the diggers have preferred other employment whilst the wages are good. After leaving the Mouth I came home by the scrubby run, for the purpose of seeing the new block which will soon be open on the deferred payment system. I overtook such a string of bullock teams as I have not seen for many years. They were all laden with wheat. One calling out, " Way, Dimple." another, " Come on", Lively," and so on. It put me in mind of the wool season on Darling Downs. I asked them where they got the wheat. "At Smith's," was their reply; and where were they going with it ? "To Harraway and Kobertson's mil]," said they. Was there much of it? "There would be 16,000 bushels of splendid wheat.'' I endeavored to get their price for delivery, but they perferred keeping that to themselves, one admitting that it paid them very fair, and they couldn't grumble. Leaving them I was joined by a friend who knew this land, and kindly pointed out is boundaries. Depending upon my friend's opinion more then my own, ho told me there was as good laud in the block as one could wish ; all that was required was good farmers, and in a few years there would be some fine farms on that spot, and I am deceived if he did not spot one for himself. It is my opinion that the whole of that run would be taken up were it open for selection. The sun now getting low, we pushed on to Lawrence, and in the evening related my journey, and in describing the sight and crops at Greenfield, the quantity to the acre, &c, I was told that I was far behind with my information, as they were now for the last two weeks getting the finest bread from the various bakers in Lawrence, produced from this wheat, that they had got for eighteen months. After such fruits of the soil, both in quantity and quality, what can the Government or the runholder say to the growing demand of "land for the people." Let the people and the press persevere in the good cause of agitating for the opening of land for settlement, and they must accomplish their object.