FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1921, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

AN AFTERNOON AT “FERNGROVE.” A SPLENDID LOT OF JERSEYS. Writes our Urenul correspondent:— Recently in company With a couple of friends, I had the pleasure, at the invitation of Mr. A. H. Halcombe, of Ferngrove, Urenul, of spending' an afternoon in looking over the estate and inspecting the purebred Jerseys, of which he has a large number. It is now some thirty-five years since Mr. Halcombe came to reside in Urenui. and his name in connection with Jerseys has become known far and wide. In those days very little land was cleared, being chiefly a mass of high fern, etc., but during the years that have passed many cnanges have been wrought in the aspect of the country, and the present condition of Ferngrove bears high testimony to the energy displayed by Mr. Halcombe. The homestead is -beautifully situated, being sheltered by belts of lordly pinus radiata (commonly known as pinus insignus) and maerocarpa, and from It a magnificent view of Mt. Egmont and the intervening country can be had; the Taranaki Bight, with the township of Urenui in the foreground may also be seen from the lawn. Before starting on our tour of inspection, we stayed a few minutes to admire an immense pinus radiata, literally covered with ivy, which had crept from the base right up to die top, and formed a most picturesque sight. Half-way up another tree was fixed the tank which contained the water supply derived from a lovely stream below rne house, and driven up a height of some 185 ft by a Hutchinson ram. By being placed in its present position, the water in the tank is always cool in the summer months, and & considerable amount of expense, which would have been incurred in erecting a stand of the same altitude, has been saved. Mention might also be made of the building erected some thirty four years ago of papa clay to serve the purpose of dairy, which is still in a perfect state of preservation, and seems likely to stand for another period of the saune duration. As we passed through' the different paddocks containing large stacks of well-saved bay, our host had only to call out to the several lots of cows and they came trooping up for inspection, and in point of condition and quality they were well worth looking at. They are wonderfully docile, and Mr. Halcombe could go up to any of them in the open paddock and apparently do what he liked with them. All have been broken in to stand without being leg-roped, and bear evidence of careful handling. Among the many notable animals which form the backbone of the herd may be seen the famous White Patch, from whom many high-class animals have been reared, amongst them being a couple by Campanile Sultan. The old lady carries hex twenty-two years wonderfully well, and is a true specimen of what a heavy butter-fat producer should be. Thelma’s Ferngrove Queen is another great animal with a big record, and it might be mentioned that 100 gns. has been offered for her next heifer calf. There are many other heavy milkers among the herd, and a number of the young stock give every promise of following in their footsteps. Occupying the post of honor in the dining room is a remarkably fine oil

painting af the head of Lady Bountiful, one of the three cows selected for the late Mr. Clark, by the late Mrs. Halcombe sen., and who has the unique experience of arriving in the Dominion, doing the return trip to England, and beu. shipped back to New Zealand. There are at present two herds being milked on the estate—one at the homestead, and the other further back—and there Is still ample room for two or more herds. The milking sheds are commodious and most up-to-date, being spotlessly clean with splendid drainage and an unlimited water supply, and tire replete with all conveniences for ensuring

the comfort of the animals. Taken altogether, we had a most pleasant and instruct!?® afternoon, Mr. Halcombe sparing no pains t®make our visit enjoyable.