HARVEST PROSPECTS IN PIAKO. The Waitoa District.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1636, 30 December 1882, Page 4

HARVEST PROSPECTS IN PIAKO. The Waitoa District.

(Concluded. ) PitOM all appearances, sheep farming promises to be tho future pursuit of tlic settlers in this part of the Piako ; and. judging by all accounts, and taking tho sill-rounding circumstances into consideration, the system is of such a profitable nature when compare 1 with the raising ami fattening of stock, or tho raising of grain ciops, as to induce settlets in a young country like Piako to go m more extensively for sheep farming tiuii tl»"y have hi the i to done. It has been shown ever and over again, and the recent attempt made by the farmeis to inauguiate. a system of co-operation, by wliichthey might assist each other in improving thuir condition as Unners, amply pnnes the fact that cattle raising in W.iihato has not been very remuner.itive within tho past few yearn. On the other hand, thos« who have gone in for sheep farming tell a different story, and speak of their calling as both profitable and satisfactory iv every respect. And farmers asa rule arc not given to speak very highly of a pursuit which does not pay them ; indeed, it is an old saying that tanners are always giumbling whether they be making a fortune or losing one. During a recent visit of our repdrter to the above district he found that all who had gone in for sheep farming, though, comparatively speaking, very few, were satisfied with the result of their enterprise. Consequently, a large acreage has been ploughed for turnips, and already many good turnip crops may be found throughout the district. The land is, generally, of excellent quality for root crops, and when well manured, turnips in particular thrive unexpectedly well. Two cwt of bones and or.c cwt of guano to the aeie is the usual stimulant in this pait of the country, "and judging irom the result of the present year's crop it is ceitainlynot thrown away. It ib the general conviction in more than one respect that sheep farming pays much better than cattle i .rising, Sheep thrive when bred heie, and glow excellent wool, and they do not necessitate so much labour as cattle. Mutton in itself always brings a paying price, and tlien the wool must be considered. vSotne excellent wool has been turned out ot the sheds of Mr W. A. Murray this year. On the estate of this gentleman the sheep ai c a cross be tween a half-bred ewe and a, purcMncrino ram, known as Tolmicb 1 bleed. The pelcentago of lambs last year was 117%, and in the shearing each averaged SUbs wool. The wool iiom this estate, is sent diiect to the Home market, and bungs the highest price of any other wool horn Auckland. Consulting the adaptability of thePi.iko lands foi wool laisinu;, together with the au-a which they include, it is not too much to anticipate that before many \ear.s have parsed, with the exeioise of piopm euteipnse and energy, a woollen iactoi v on the Kiapoi and Mosgiel principle may be started in this now flonrishiu« dibti ut. Sulliuent wool could easily ber.iibcd hem to keep a factory going, and judging fi om the excellence of the aiticle, in 'its natuial state we have no doubt that when manufactured and put side by side in the market with the other faetoiies, if it would not surpass it, it certainly would not bo eclipsed. Cheese and bacon faetoiies have been ttarted in connection a\ lth the pastoral lands of Waikato, but wo cannot ab yet s.iy with what success. Nc\eitheless, it is to be hoped when Piako advances in settlement her settler* will follow the example of those in W.iiLito, and stait n woollen factoiy in connection with the wool-rais-ing lands ot their district. The hay looks lemarkably well in Piako. this season, consideiingthedioughty and burning natuie of the weather ; and the clover in" some piae.es could not />e excelled by anything in AVaikato. Cock&foot and vyegrass ate the 151 asses generally used, bWtiniotliy tin ives well in the swamp. .Sorghum luib albo been giown with success in this distiict. We have been shown sonic grown by Mr Munay on his Piako estate, rcpiesentiiig an excellent growth, and tully testifying to the tcitility of the country on which it was ciown. Tlic stalks aveiage Bft. in length. Soighiun makes excellent feed foi-liorsos', who oaf. it with much relish when mixed w lth their oats.