The Farm.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 March 1893, Page 5

The Farm.

HEDGEHOPS AND DUjSTSDALE. (ht our special REPORTS I!.) Harvest in these districts is nearly over, and the .greater part of the crop now under cover- in fairly good condition. Idee yield is hard]}* up to the average of the locality, the grain havn'-.g been considerably shaken by the high winds and stormy weather of the cud of .February and the beginning- of Mast-h. Potatoes are a poor crop, and hare been further injured try tire early autumn frosts, which have been so frequent this season. . Turnips are fair, hut hard! 3promise the abundant crop that is sometimcs seen. The valley of the Hedgehope contains a largo area of rich alluvial soil, which when drained and worked is prolific of either grain or grass, and several tine farms are well advanced in cultivation and improvement, ami in profitable occupation. Mr Archibald Mnokay —the pioneer settler of the district —has a nice and wellsheltered holding- fronting on the Dunsdale. His orchard look very tempting, the trees being- heavily laden with well-grown fruit. Adjoining, down-stream, is a property lately acquired by Mr William Halliday, wlio appears to he van-king this farm with, the same vigour and intelligence that he has brought to bear on his floslyn. Bush estate so successfully for many years past. The farm of Mr Geo. McLeod, very pleasantly situated at the junction of the Dunsdalo with the Hedgehope, is a rich alluvial soil, and has produced some very tine grain crops. Lower- down are the properties of Messrs Wm. Young and A. Macdonald and Sons, the latter situated on both sides of the Hedgehope, producing- heavy grain crops and rich pasturage. Mr Jas. Millar has also a lino farm, adjoining the rich alluvial land ox Mr Janies Fleming-. Messrs Goman Bros, and Hanning’ and Sons are extensively improving- their holding's, consisting of terrace and alluvial soils. On the upper Hedgehope the land —partly fine alluvial—is mainly held by the Hew Zealand and Australian Land Co., and is not yet much improved, having been hitherto used for grazing- purposes only. There is a large extent of hush land situated on the southern slopes of the Hokonni ranges, fronting on the Hedgehope river for a distance of twelve or thirteen miles. This forest contains a very largo quantity of good and useful timber, which, is yet out of roach of a, market. The extension of the Forest Hill tramway five or six miles eastward from the Hokonui Coal Co.’s ’workings would tap this timbered country and give the wood a commercial value. Trout are numerous in the Dunsdale stream, but of small size. They arc said to ho much larger in the Hedgehope river.

On the Dunsdale is situated the Invercargill Water Reserve, a block of some 800 acres, at present under lease to Mr G. McLeod, who is usingit principally for pasturage. It is more than probable tliat the citizens of Invercargill of a future date, when their numbers are well up in the live figures, will drink of Duns dale water-, the gathering- of pure mountain dew from the Hokonui highlands.

JOTTINGS. H .arresting 1 is now almost finished in the Western district. In several cases the wheat crop has suffered from the frost. Great activity has prevailed in the sheep market of late, and large lines have keen coming forward fur the freezing works. The Canadian thistle is making its presence known about the Jacob’s River district, and prompt measures will have to he taken to check it. The Agricultural Department is distributing leaflets throughout the district in reference to the, hot fly, so that humors may be prepared if the destructive creatures come South. A movement is on foot to establish a dairy factory at Tokonui Gorge.

The matter has been discussed before, but it is understood business is now meant. Minety 2,4, and G-tooth purebred border Leicester ewes, from the famous flock of Mi- W. Boag, of Canterbury, arrived hero last week, their destination being Mount Linton station. All inrAL SIIOUTHORX. “A sturdy head, a. roomy c-iio.-t, A mellow hide a:id mossy Majestic pace and sprightly air, A level back, -well-covered chine, Gigantic- arms and canon line ; 'With substance, strength, and solid weight, And every lino completely straight; "With fore rib round, and shoulder smooth and deep, And calm, smooth eyes thru’ which good temper peeps.” Irrespective of '.their value as a means of income for the farmers, the establishment of so many dairy factories has (says a recent visitor to Mew Zealand) worked very great good in a social sense in ISTew Zealand in providing- employment for the younger branches of families, and in most instances the •members of da hymen’s families are allowed a certain weekly allowance of money by the heads of the families, thus makingthem happy and contented to remain and work, at home. An incident that occurred in our travels in Southland will illustrate this. A youth, son of a dairyman, -while driving- a fellowtraveller of ours to a railway station, confided to him the fact that he had to call at the savings bank in the township to “ draw £4O as a loan to dad.” Writing of his trip to this colony, Mr Gordon, the Queensland Stock Inspector, remarks ; . On the whole I was very highly delighted with Mew Zealand. The English grasses, trees, and flowers, the neat furze and broom hedges, and above all the air constantly filled with the songs of numerous skylarks, made me feel that Mew Zealand was only my native Scotland transplanted on to a new and more genial climate. The delegates to the conference ,at Wellington were entertained at dinner at the Wellington Club, and Mr Bruce and I were made honorary members of that club as well as the Dunedin and luvercauld Clubs. The unbounded hospitality with which we were everywhere received, from the Minister of Agriculture downwards, frequently suggested to my mind Burns’ appreciation of Highland hospitality, which, adapted fertile occasion, might h 6 rendered thus : When death’s dark stream I ferry o’er, A time that surely shall come, In heaven itself I ask no more ■ Than a New Zealand welcome.