PROGRESSIVE FARMING.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 317, 1 May 1878, Page 4

PROGRESSIVE FARMING.

Undeu the above heading a, correspondent writes to the* Waikato Thoes as follows:—Progressive as farming has been the last five years in Waikato, many great mistakes have been made outside the want of capital by men with an unlimited supply of this very essential article, simply from want of knowledge, and too often from want ol “ brain” power. Perhaps in the whole colony, certainly iu this district, the passion (if all those—intellect, energy, and thorough knowledge of what he is doing — W orc never shown to greater advantage than by the present manager of Mr J. C. Frifh’s magnificent estate at Matamata, Mr T1 lomas Cawkwell. Under a different mode of treatment, ana mother hands, the result in a pecuniary point oi: view lias hitherto been very disheartening, and the appearance of the limited amount of.land brought into cultivation anything but encouraging. But what is the state of affairs now ? In the short space of twelve months—hardly that, I am informed—everything is changed as though by the hand of the magician. Instead of a few barren acres of brokon-np land and wretched-looking grass, 1 saw and rode over the other day nearly 3000 acres looking really grand, 2000 acres of turnips included. The first crop of thorn, sown, I believe, in Sept, last—swedes, purple top, and yellow globe.—are large, sound, and good. Thou follows a gradation scale of smaller ones for eachsubsequent month s sowing, until they appear in double leaf only as the result of last mouth’s sowing. I must confess to my utter astonishment at the sight I saw, and the thought came into my mind, as I rode over this grand-lookiiig scone, how unmistakably the “ mastermind ” was shewn. Let no one, after this exhibition of skill, forethought, and intelligence, say that the Piako is capable of little, and can only grow indifferent grasses. It must be borne in mind, too, that these turnips are grown upon fern laud never before broken up.