A RECORD CROP.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 258, 22 December 1914, Page 3

A RECORD CROP.

A correspondent, writes: "As showing the quality of some of the so-called poor fern lands abutting on the Manukau harbour under capable treatment it is interesting to record the fact that Mr J. W. McLarin, senr., has just reaped on this harbour view property generally known as "Hull's Point," slightly under 32 acres of Algerian Oats. It required 36 balls of binder twine without any waste to tie {bis crop, and as some of it was seven feet in height it was expected to pass out close on three tons of oaten sheaf chaff to the acre as it is exceptionally heavy headed. Mr McLarin says it is a record of his cropping experience with this class- of oats, and taking the dry season into consideration it will probably prove a record for the province this season. When it is remembered that this class of land was considered practically worthless a few years ago it shows that the cry " poor lands " as far as the Karaka and similar lands are concerned is now out of date. I am informed that do bone dust, blood and bone, or any nitrogenious manure of any description was used for this crop, which was grown on new ground, broken in from fern, etc., the mixture selected consisting of basic slag, super and sulphate of potash. On the same property Mr McLarin cut off another paddock last season two tons of oaten chaff per acre, sowing down at the same time as the oats cow grass and other fine grasses and clover. The aftermath is now a splendid paddock of clover, etc. This property, amounting to 420 acres, belonged to Mr Abe Hull, and was then in fern and scrub. It is now practically all in grass and is at present carrying no less than 125 head of cattle, including 70 dairy cows, some 50 of the latter being milking on the farm. The Italian rye grass is so ahead of the cattle that on over 100 acres it is being cut for sood and will return about 20 bushels to the acre and this despite the fact that the dairy cattle were running on it right up to November."