BUCKLAND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 246, 30 January 1917, Page 1

BUCKLAND.

LOCAL FARMING LiNFS. (By Our Travelling Correspondent.) Some lands lying adjacent to a township lend themselves more than others to especial notice. They not infrequently present a charm all their own. As one stands on the rising hill land overlooking Buckland station where the farmsteads, with their redroofed houses, stand as monuments of toil and past energy one realises the advantages and comfort of country life. Buckland is a place rich in possibilities. It is more or less divided by the railway which serves a district whose fame in the future will, it is believed, outstrip other parts of the Dominion as a dairy-cropping area. On a well-tilled farm, small, yet convenient, belonging to Mr G. Harper, with an acreage of only 32 acres, a splendid crop of maize, already 7ft in height, can be seen. Away in an opposite direction on the highlands, on a farm of 62 acres, belonging to Mr E. Mcßobbie, a valuable crop of oats lies cut, awaiting, after a few days more sunshine, removal. On the same farm is a fine crop of maize which is a credit to any farmer. Sometimes farm land is a standing disgrace to the owner, and not far from the last-mentioned farm is land so ill-farmed and neglected as to deserve the severest castigation. From local report this belongs to a military officer of established repute who is " doidg his duty " elsewhere. It is to be regretted that he holdsuch land, while around him farmers display a commendable part for keeping their holding in such good order. Throughout the Buckland district farms generally give evidence of close attention. Some neglect appears on some farms in owners allowing bagged potatoes to remain too long on the ground. When a heavy shower unexpectedly cornea this does much harm, and a little thought to have them removed would prevent this. Penny-royal is not so plentiful along the roadside and paddocks aj in some districts. Blackberries, however, appear to be quite thick enough, and rabbits are not, unfortunately, on the decrease. The roads are in a good state, and the culverts and water-tables are well looked after. On the Pukekohe boundary potatoes do remarkably well. One farmer in one season is reported to have secured no less than £ISOO for potatoes off 10 acres of land. This is not a mere fictitional statement, but can be corroborated as correct. Few places adjacent to a township possess such good land, railway facilities and roads as Buckland, and, provided the inadequate labour problem does not become more acute, its land value should rise proportiontely to its careful cultivation. As a potato and dairying country it has few equals.