The Farm.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 5, 29 April 1893, Page 11

The Farm.

SOUTH FOREST HILL

(fiY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

In tliis district farming operations progress steadily, and -some of the holdings are being - very much improved. The Messrs Mosan are extensively cultivating - their large farm, and have now a considerable area under grass and other crop. Their homestead is very pleasantly situated on the east side of the Forest Hill bush, well sheltered from the westerly winds. They have done a great deal gf draining and fencing, and are very energetic in pushing on the work of improving the land.Adjoining, to the north, is the farm of Messrs Ferrier, who have also a considerable extent under grass and crop. This holding has the advantage of the shelter of the Forest Hill range and bush from the cold winds. In this range is limestone —from soft to* hard—in unlimited supply, with plenty of wood for burning it, and this applied to the land after the drain-plough has been through it, will greatly improve the formerly moist soils of east Forest Hill. ■ On the Forest Hill range is some very fine limestone soil—warm and dry — lying under a light growth of scrub and timber, immediately behind the. properties of Messrs Pettigrew, Mosan, Ferrier and others. If offered in suitably sized blocks, settlement would find its way into this bush. • There is a considerable extent of rich alluvial land on the west bank of the Makarewa river, partly improved and under grass, Some very heavy grain yields have been raised on these flat-lands, and for grass ’ growing it would be hard to find better. Much of it was liable to inundation from the overflow of the Makarewa river, but this is now averted by the construction of a, channel cut down the centre of the flat. The flood-waters as they rise are caught by this low-level and straightway escape, and are discharged several miles down the river by a rapid descent, in a very short time, and therefore do not accumulate and find space for temporary lodgment on the surface of the land, and there lay awaiting escape by the circuitous river channel carved out by the waters of past ages. As this land becomes drier and warmer from the absence of periodical submergence, it is more than likely it will become wheat bearing, as well as prolific of oats and grass. This strip of rich soil is mainly held by a son of Mr T, M. Macdonald and the Messrs Fleming of Rakahouka. There are several other smaller holdings in this locality, all in course of more or less improvement, held by Messrs Campbell, Adamson, Lawrie, Pettigrew, and others. On the north side of Grove Bush is the property of Mr Almao, which he is fencing and otherwise improving. A very large number of matai and totara sleepers were taken out of Grove Bush about twenty years ago by Mr John Murdoch, now

of Dunedin, who was at that time running a saw mill at the west end of Grove Bush. It was said that about 100,000 sleepers were sent out of this, bush, and loaded into railway waggons at a siding a short distance north - of the Ityal -Bush platform. The soft timbers- —red and white pine—were not cut, and are yet in the bush, andwill doubtless be worked up sooner or later. Tussac Creek Farm—first selected and very much improved by the late genial Captain Thomson—is now in the hands of Mr Coster, who is bringing - -it into good production. The property of Mr George McCaldon, situated on. Tussac Creek, has lately changed hands, havingbeen purchased by Mr George of Waipbri- at a satisfactory figure. Beyond ring fencing it was but little improved, but the new owner is likely to bring it into cultivation, as building and ploughing are already commenced.