WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2426, 28 January 1888, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

The D.uky I.voustuy.—The information published in a recent issue of Thk Waikato Times, giving the result of shipments of butter from the .South Coast and Camden Co-operative Association (Australia) to London, and which brought in a depressed market, Is per )b is particularly interesting to us all just now. The Waikato is, if anything, a dairying district, and the prospect ot obtaining a steady demand for our dairy produces is very cheering; One point requires to be borne in mind, that all dairying for export, must be done on the Co-operative principle, no private dairyman however excellent his product may be, can furnish that necessary requisite for foreign sale —a large and uniform quality. But the Waikato has long since passed the stage when this would constitute any difficulty, for throughout its length and breadth there aro creameries in full swing. It only needs a steady foreign market at a fair price to give a permanence to the busiiifisss. On the Waipa the creamery trade is yet only in its infancy, and those connected with it seem well satisfied. Soma disappointment has been felt that the steamer did not go higher up the river than Whatawhata. Possibly next year this may be remedied. Though it is only a short time since it has started, the creimory has demonstrated tho value of the Waipa land for dairying purposes. Where milk contains 15 per cent, and upwards of cream, there can be no question as to what the land is suited for, and this rich milk brings a higher price. With the Ngaruawahia creamery as a permanent institution, we look forward to an increased demand for land in the neighbourhood of Whatawhata and along tho Waipa. With rich land at a low figure, and a steady market for milk at the door, industrious families will be able to make (what has not been the rulo of late), a comfortable living out of the land. Tnu Peach.—ln former times the Waipa was jnsMy celebrated for it-s poach groves, and until the blight made its appearance both natives and Europeans looked forward to the peach season. Many of these old trees, though not bearing, are still alive, and so settlers having any of them growing on their land, a visit to the orchard of Mr Wild, Hamilton East, will be repaid. This lias formally been a peach orchard, but upon the appearanco of the blight instead of the trees Going dug up the tops were cut off the stocks grafted with different kinds of plums. The result of this treatment c.in be seen today, and rarely indeed can trees be found so large and so loaded with fine fruit. Two useful hints can be obtained trom a visit to this orchard: First, that old peach trees are too valuable to be dug up, and, second, that some varitios of plums, otherwise shy bearers, on the peach stocks seem to bear heavily.