A VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 612, 31 December 1866, Page 2

A VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

(jBOM OTTB SPECIAL COBBESPONDENT.) No. IT. Tt is very many years since the idea of extensively sowine English grasses was first mooted in Victoria. The land reformer who opposed the squatting system which gave the pastoral tenant a small principality at a nominal rent, argued with energy and ability, that by adopting a methodic system of cultivation English and other grasses on pastoral land, the productiveness of the land would he increased tenfold, and prove a preventative to scab, and the other diseases that afflict stock that are kept for a length of time on virgin pasture. Long and angry was this discussiou, and no practical advantages arose from it — the squatter who held his one or two hundred thousand acres of Crown lands at a " pepper corn" rental, affirmed that no description of grass growing cultivation could improve the land to an extent that would enable him to breed and rear sheep on a lesser area than from three to six acres per head. While on the other hand it was strongly maintained that even rough cultivation would so improve the land that the carrying capabilities of every run so cultivated would be a* ip*" 1 * d/»nM«<l--Notwithstanding that this subject was long a topic for discussion no practical solution of the problem was ever given. It was reserved for Southland to settle the question. From what I have seen in the Eastern District there cannot be a shadow of a doubt that every acre of what Is called pastoral land may by energy and enterprise in a very short time be made to yield returns five times as great as is nowr popularly believed a fair estimate of theii; productiveness — that land which is now rated at three acres to the sheep will carry from two to three sheep to the acre. The result of my inquiries upon this subject, and personal inspection of the cultivation of grasses at Morton Main?, suppliesjample evidence of the soundness of the opinion above expressed. I have said before that this station consists of a four thousand acre block, and is cleared, ploughed, and almost all under cultivation. It will now be my endeavor to explain the nature of the cultivation and other matters appertaining to the working of this model farm. In the first place, the land is divided into eighteen paddocks, all sheep oroof, fenced with strong sawn timber and wire. The divisions of the four thousand acre block may be classed as follows : —

The growth of the English grasses is wonderful, especially when it is remembered that a very large portion is a first year's crop. I went through field after field, and even where the sheep had been long feeding it was knee deep and close grown, presenting a healthy and luxuriant appearance almost unknown in the colonies. The wheat and oats are of remarkable growth, and promise a heavy harvest. It is estimated that the land laid down in English grasses will sustain and fatten three sheep to the acre. This estimate is no assertion, but the result of a careful calcuation of the number of sheep depastured upon a given number of acres during the year. Here then is evidence that small stations well worked will pay the workers and contribute much more largely to the progress of a country than large and uncultivated runs. It is not only the increased number of 6heep that can be depastured on a given area of land that is laid down in English grass, but the increase of the quantity of wool that each sheep gives. For instance the sheep (Leceister and. Lincoln's) that were shorn from this station cut the large average of seven and a half pounds per head, some of the ram fleeces weighing from sixteen to seventeen pounds. These sheep are especially worthy of mention. I saw a flock of about four thousand Leicester and Lincoln's, chiefly lambs, of the very finest description I have seen in any of the colonies ; beautiful in symetry, gigantic in I growth, and healthy in appearance, they lookperfect j models — such as may be soen in print representations but- seldom met with aa living and moving animals. I understand that these flocks are the offspring of imported stock, some of the parent rams having cost the company as much as £95 each, and the whole flock averaged £35 per head. The importance to the Province of such importations cannot be over-estimated. The system of breeding such a class of sheep, and the cultivation of English grass if generally adopted, cannot fail to double the quantity of wool that ia now exported, and materially advance the prosperity of every class of the community. The following figures will convey some idea of the magnitude of the operations of the company that are being carried on under the directorship of Mr it. Hamilton : — Stock. — Sheep, 15,000 1 „ Cattle, about 160 „ Working Bullooki in

constant U9e ... ,„ „k $0 i, Horses for farm uae, 40 pair 80 „ Horses, hacks, ... 80 „ Pigs, fine bred, about - 60 In addition to the above there are 20 waggon horses constantly on the road, carting provisions from Invercargill. The number of persons engaged on the stations including women is nearly 200. There are three gigantic steam ploughs, of from 18 to 24 horse-power, each capable of ploughing from 9 to 10 acres of new land, per day, each, with harrows, grubbers, &o. There is also a portable steam thrashing and mowing machine, 2 steam saw- mills, blacksmith's forge, tools, &0., car* penters ditto, and other mechanical appliances re* quired to keep the works going on without interruption. The amount of food consumed is immense, as may be imagined from the fact that 18 heavy bullocks are slaughtered fortnightly for the 1 stations use. The expenditure is necessarily large, as will be seen from the following statement, which is authentic, having been kindly supplied me by Mr Hamilton. It is for the six months commencing Ist April, and ending 30th November, viz :—

The above figure represents the expenditure on the various stations under the immediate managemenfc of Mr Hamilton, viz: — Morton Maine*, Flemington, and Woodlands. The amount of cultivation already done on the two latter stations sink into insignificance when compared with the former, but now active exertions are being made to place them in an equal state of advancement to that of Morton Maines. The whole of the land comprised in these blocks are now being turned up. and thirteen steam ploughs are expected immediately, upon the arrival of which, operations will be commenced at Waimumu Station, (30,000 acres), the whole of which is to be laid down in English grasses. As in my next, I purpose to give a sketch of these and other stations — referring to the magnificent llour mill in course of erection at Woodland's, the steam sawmill with its mile and a-half tramway, and other instances of enterprise displayed on other stations of the company I have visited — the present remarks must suffice for the present. One thing, howsver, should be mentioned — the extent of the work imrier progress is great beyond description. The amount of British capital invested is enormous, and as evidence of the faith the far-seeing capitalists of the home country have in the results of practical farming in Southland, the capital is to be considerable argumented, and the Companies operations greatly extended. Duringthe coming year the expenditure of the amalgamated companies (upon which subject I shall hereafter write) will be far in excess of the present, and should encourage the people of Invercargill to foster 'hat faith in the future, that those who have invested their tens of thousands, and those who, by indomitab'e perseverance, in the short period of three years, made a gigantic waste a fertile field, have displayed.

June £2185 17 0 July 2734 13 7 August 3261 2 6 Sepfc 3888 9 9 Oct. 2935 16 9 Not. 3852 13 10 £18,878 13 4

Under Grass — English, rye, clover, &c 2500 Oats, wheat, and barley, under crop 800 Turnips 100 Potatoes and other vegetables ... 20 Land being sown and occupied for other purposes ... ... ... 580 Total number of acres „ , ... 4000