No. II.

Southland Times, Issue 672, 20 May 1867, Page 3

No. 11.

In continuation of a narrative of my visit to the Northern Districts, the aim will be to give an approximate estimate of the land actually occupied, the quantity under crop, and the result of the harvest of 1867. In doing this the acknowledged districts will be classified as far as possible, and the figures as near as my information will allow, convey a good approximate: estimate of the cultivation and capabilities of each. The information collected has been received from either the settlers themselves or reliable neighbors. It is scarcely possible that all the farms in each district could be included, and therefore the statement must be taken as under the mark — that both the land occupied, and the produce set forth is less than the returns represent. It must i further be understood that this is purely an agricnltural report, that land purchased unless more or less cultivated has not been taken cognisance of further than to enable me to give a general estimate of the character of the country and the future that is before the Province. It is satisfactory to be able to state that it is universally conceded and that the harvest of 1867 has been the most prolific yet known, that not a single settler 1 met with expressed discontent with the result of this year's crops. The average returns supplied by the growers vary considerably, the lowest expected returns is put down as 20 bushels to the acre of wheat, and 30 of oats, while the majority give wheat 30 to 35 to the acre, and oats 40 to 45, while those farms that have been a few years in cultivation reach as high as from 50 to 60 for wheat, and 70 for oats. The potatoe crop has been exceedingly good, ranging from 12 tolß tons to the acre. I was informed by one settler in the New River District that his potatoe crop, though apparently fine, did not turn out well ; that a disease resembling the Irish potatoe blight and . displayeditself ; and thathehadfoundin the Eastern District, from which he had just . returned similar symptoms had been observed. The turnip crop is particularly prolific, 45 tons to the acre having been obtained. This root is not extensively cultivated in this district, a small number only of the farmers having a few acres. What I have said of the growth of turnips will apply with even greater force to carrots. The finest samples of this vegetable are everywhere met with, some that I saw taken out of the ground weighed from 4 to 61bs each, sound to the very core. The article of barley, I was surprised to find, had not been much cultivated, few*of the farmers having put in more than 2or 3 acres, and many none at all. What I did see was fine full grain, well adapted for malting purposes. The disposition to cultivate English grasses is most manifest, a large majorty of the farmers having resorted to this system of increasing the value of land that they did not intend for a time to further cultivate. The subjoined is a statement of the information obtained in the districts passed through : — WAIKIVI. The returns for over twenty farms in this district were obtained, showing the acrage, the discription of crop, and the expected result of thrashing, will supply an idea of the capabilities of the district. The farms that may have been omitted being of a similar discription of soil it may be assumed that the results will equal the general average. The country embraced in what I have termed the Waikivi, extends from the Waihopai to the Makerewa Bridge. The estimated average of wheat is as near as possible 33 bushels to the acre. Out of the twenty returns there is only one as high as 40 bushels, and only three so low as five and twenty, eight are down at 30, two at 35, and the other six have not grown wheat this season. The oat crop will average 37, the highest return being 45 bushels to the acre, and lowest 25. The potatoe crop will average 13 tons to the acre, and the turnips are expected by the growers to yield; from 30 to 35 tons to the acre. The acreage of the holdings varies from about 50 to 740, there are two as small as 50, eleven between 80 and 100 ; two over 150 ; and seven varying from 160 to 740. STATEMENT. Land occupied 8525 acres. Under crop : — Wheat... 165 acres. Expected yield, 33 bshls Oats 509 „ „ „ 37 „ Barley 7 „ „ „ 80 „ Potatoes, 62 „ „ „ 13 tons Turnips... 24 „ „ „ 30 „ Eng. grass, 555 „ „ « — »> Gardens, &c, 40,, H „ — » Total acres ... 1362 Land in preparation or pastoral, 2163 Acres 8525 Thus it wiH be seen that from twenty farms in this small district a very large yield of grain &c, has been obtained. Taking the average given as correct, and I am assured by the most experienced growers that they are under rather than over the mark, it gives the following quantities : — Wheat 5445 bushels Oats 18,832 „ Barley 210 „ Potatoes 806 tons Turnips (about) 840 „ The grass land being intended for grazing purposes, its value can be only estimated by the number of sheep that can be kept on each acre. I have been informed that a well-grown English grass paddock will keep four sheep to the acre. This I think an over estimate. It is possible that on unusually rich land, deeply ploughed and pampered that such might be the result, but upon the whole I do not think that more can be calculated upon than from 2to 3. Taking this estimate, the improved pasturage, included in this statement would afford the farmers alluded to sustenance for 1387 on an area of land that in its native state would not carry more than 300 or 400. The grain in this district is very good, dry, and of more than average sizes. The running of the Oreti Railway will be a great advantage to the settlers in this district, as the distance to the station is short, and I understand that a Mr Young is about erecting an extensive^ flour-mill, in close proximity to the terminus. The settlers in this district are highly satisfied with the result of the harvest. I did not hear any complaints except with reference to the soaroity of labor, tho low prioe at -which farm produce was being sold, and the want of roads. The scarcity of labor, however, was the topio most frequently alluded to. One settler remarked "the market for produce is so limited that with such a harvest as thia year's, it becomes overstocked and grain falls to so low a figure that with the present high wages required for labor, it leaves but little margin for profit. If labor was plentiful, there would not be a finer or more profitable farming country in the world than Southland." This sentiment though not in the Bame words, was very generally expressed throughout the district. A good deal of fencing work is going on, and from what I could learn, a very large inorease next year may be expected in English grass land, and also in barley. This district is well watered, it is flat, slightly Undulating, with fine soil, belts of bush, and possesses good, faculties for drainage.