PATUMAHOE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 57, 7 January 1913, Page 2

PATUMAHOE.

(Travelling Representative.) A wet cay on Friday curtailed a trip to WaidU, so >(.ur representative had a run down to Mr E. r. Cuff's plac<; oa the Dru:y-Waiuku-ro:d. C. NOT!. On the wav cut a call was made at Mr C. Ncti's farm, cf 129 acres. From here snme tim; ago the particulars of hiß dairy c ; :W8 wag reported, a record of which Mr Nott is justly proud. During my many trips through the district I have been f.-equently called to account for sendin? Buch information to the "limes," many farmers flatly refusing to believe the statement? I would like to fay to all such and others that Mr Nott is quite prepared to shaw hia returns to any one who doubts the information supplied, to hope this will convince the sceptical. On other departments of his farm Mr Nott is as careful ard particular as with his cow?. On the farm is a choice young colt, of which more will be heard next season, for he is really something special. A heavy crop of hay had been saved, and a field of oats wruld shortly provide some «x-. cellent chaff. Tee paddocks here have been well and truly laid down in grass, 5 cwt. of manure per acre being used in ihe first place and regular tot-dressings cf 2£ cwt. each succeeding season. Some superior calves are to be seen. In this connection it is worth noting that the day afier iha record of the cows appeand in the 'Times" a neighbouring distiict farmer rode over and asked to be given fi s*. refusal for all heifers that were :o be auld. OTHEK FARMS. Across the road are the farms of A. G. Knight and F. Schbpe. At the former a heavy Top of oats just ready for the binder was particularly noticeable. At the letter's an attractive looking vegetable garden showed what the lind was capable of producing. Some spl ndid crops of mangolds are grown here <ach season, Mr Schlupe only recently having fed out the remainder of last season's crop. ROAD MAKING. Passing down the soft road, which was very slippery and wtt, it was noticed that a good deal of road work being done. Several cuttings were ur.der way, end good grades tormed over seme one time awkward hills. There is ro metal yet, Lut that will probably c mi in time. c-. C. CUFF. A wide drive lead* up t>i Mr Cuff's residence, a large modern house built in the bungalow style. Here everything is fitted up to give almost town comforts. Water is laid on, both hot and cold being . provided. Acetylene gas is used for lighting and also providing a gas rinft. This had been all carefully fixed by Mr W. Russell, o! Pukekoie, and was giving the greatest satisfaction. An up-tc-date yyitem i<f drainjge has also bean installed, the liberal water supply a: d the elevated position of the building making a safe and effec ive drainage system an easy matter.

The water supply waa drawn from two 40u gallon tanks, which were kept constantly full of water by a large pump worked with a powerful windmill. The water was located by the Rev. Mason, he stating that an enormous reservoir of water was lying som<! 60 feet from the surface within a few ya:ds of the house. Boring operations were commenced, and though water showed at 56 feet it was not considered sufficient, so the bore was continued till 260 feet was reached As no water was yet showing, another diviner was requisitioned, who also maintained an ample supply would be found at 60 feet, ha stating that there were no less than fiv3 streams raining from this spot. A fre ih bore was tried, and at the distance stated a good supply was tapped, the first bore evidently going right past it. This extra 200 feet did not prove a profitable venture to Mr Cuff, as it cost him <>n extra £3O.

As Mr Curl's farming operations have proved highly successful 1 was pleased to get some particulars regarding his working this Karaka land. Some years ago he took up a large bluck now owned by Messrs Taylor Bros., and at that time the land was looked oi rs worthless. Mr Cuff heard such bad repo.ts of the land that he decided to plaut furze for sheep farming. Some 400 acres was put down and the sheep did excellently, but in the meantime he found by proper treatment thit grasses and clovers would do as well as anywhere els. 3 , -ro the furze was gradually cleared out and grasses substituted. About 18 months ago he sold out and took up the present block of 500 acres, then a complete ess of fern and heather. The plough wai immediately set to work, and large tracts turned up, for Mr Cuff 8 experience is that this land wants from 12 to 18 months fallowing with a second ploughing meanwhile. But what a transformation is seen on the 500 acres of fern and heather! There are 30 acres of Wolths srass, 30 acres of Italian ryegrass, 13 acres of oats (cut and stacked), 25 acres of pasture and Wolths gras-i was a sple did crop and would have easily panned out 40 bushels to the acre, but the caterpillar got into it and have almost mined the whole crop, it being doubtful if 10 hush Js to the acre will be saved. Ihis practically means a loss of between £4OO and £SOO, which is very ditheartenine, especially as it waj the first return off the new farm. The crop of Italian is still alright, and i-iven a Week's fine weather should be able to be saved, but being very heavy and now quits ripe fine weather is of the utmost importance. M r Cuff considers the Wolths grass far superior to Italian, and notwithstatiding his loss is preparing to sow over 80 acres next Season. I was shown some growing alongside Italian, and certainly there was a double verdi;t in favour of Wolths, and as a bushel of Italian fetched only 3s 6d, against the Wolths 16s Sd, the monetary consideration is a big one. I

In all his cropping Mr Cuff uses the following mixture ai fertiliser:— Bones 1 cwt., super 1 cwt., guano 1 cwt, and 201bs potash. I have been frequently aiked it J knew Mr Guff's

mixture, bo now it W given for the public benefit. His resuiis have always been so satisfactory (of course, barring caterpillar* that many will be glad of the JnformaWith the abuve-nuntioneu mixhite when sowing for setd 251bs of Italian is sown and 201b of Woiths, the latter amount proving ample. Counting the cost of the land, the buildings and improvements, horses and implements, ovtr £4OOO has already been spent (or the last 18 months; this to show how sclidly the breaking - in problem has been tarkled.

In speaking of the wicdmill I omitted to mention that th 1 tower was built of jariah timber, about 14 feet high, with an upright of 4 inches by 4 inches in the cer.tre, to N which the windmill is tolted. This f plan is much cheaper than the tteel tower; in this instance the tower and windmill complete only cost £l2, without the tanks. I saw large flhek* of starlings on tha stumble ground; they were husv with the caterpillars, but it appears they ran only work when the grass or crop is cut, but where they do come the caterpillars eet a short shift. W. HAEATA. Across the Drury-road is another new farm lately taken up by Mr W. Haeata Here there is a temporary bachelor's establishment, but some gcod farming operation" are being carried out on similar lines to Mi Cuff's. This season 20 acres of Italian and 10 acres of oats constitute the crop, but for next season preparations are already being made to have over 100 acres cropped. A large stable, 48 feet by 28 feet, wts being built, and during the last five months close on £IOOO has been tpent, clearly allowing the determined way these settlers are taking up the land.

PtfOPERIY CHANGE. a Anoth.r change of property can bo . reported from this part, a 70 acne block, belonging to Mr T. Moore, having been sold to Mr W Howe. This property has 4 acres in oats and the balance is nearly all in grass. A satisfactory price was secured.