FARMING ENTERPRISE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2486, 28 September 1922, Page 2

FARMING ENTERPRISE.

Someone has said that a public benefactor is one who makes two blades of grass grow in place of one. This trueism applied to Mr William Ross entitles him to that honour. Recently our representative paid a visit to the banking operations at Moutoa, and incidentally bad a look over the farm and flax land of the Poplar Flaxmilling Co., of which Mr Ross is manager and part owner. This land is situated about live miles from Fox ton, the greater portion lying across the river, including a (lax area of some 500 acres, which supplies the mill with the green blade, and provides almost continuous employment for a large number of men. The total area of the estate is over one thousand acres. When the present owners took over the land some years ago, it was a swampy wilderness. Cabbage trees, scrub, goatsrue, etc., grew in luxuriance, and big cattle grazed, almost hidden from -sight, in the marshy land. To-day, almost the whole of the area, except the flax land, has been converted into rich pastures, divided into four dairy farms, with modern dwellings, milking plant, and herds totalling three hundred cows. Some of the land is carrying a cow to the acre. A considerable sum of money has been expended in draining, clearing, ploughing, etc. To give some idea of the tangled undergrowth which had to be contended against, the horses’ legs had to he protected with “leggings" when ploughing operations were commenced. Those who knew the country some ten years ago would hardly recognise it to-day. Most of the ground was a tangle of goatsrue, but very little of it is noticeable now. The soil is very fertile, but Mr Ross believes that it pays to top-dress even rich soil. In one paddock which had been topdressed with basic slag, there was a luxuriant growth of grass. Turnip crops were prolific, and a patch of lucerne kept well ahead of the periodical cutting. Although a considerable sum has been expended on improvements, it has been more than justified by results. The only drawback at present is the want of a bridge to give direct communication with the Moutoa toad. Such enterprise and foresight on the part of Air Ross has been of great benefit to the district.