FARMING PROSPECTS IN TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2876, 18 December 1890, Page 3

FARMING PROSPECTS IN TUHIKARAMEA.

(By ouk own CditiiuruMJiiXT.) Tl'HlK.utAMiiA hurt not been generally regarded an one of the leading districts in Waikato, lying out of the regular truck of now-comers in search of land, and possessit must be admitted, a considerable area of Huddling soil, has no doubt had much to do with it. IJut nnyono taking a quiet rido through Tiihikarnmea at the present lime, would be astonished at the great strides in agriculture which have been made during the past year or two, and the improved appearance of many of the farms. Leaving the boundary of the Newcastle district, your correspondent travelled alone the county road, which is roally a good one, passing by thousands of acres of very fair land, with rich swamp easily drained. The first farm reached is the well-kept one of Mr Norman ; behind this lie the snug farms of Messrs Davys and Hadfield, each homestead of course nestling under the usual clump of evergreens. Passing round what is known as the pound corner, we head for the river; along this road is a largo block nt land lying unoccupied. Mr Livingston's property, with large house not long erected, can be seen on the right. TliiM gentleman was unlucky enough to lose some five acres of potatoes on the river terrace during the recent floods. Across the river are the farms of Messrs Harsant, Dickey, and Finlayson, all of them apparently well stocked with sheep, but no large amount of crops. Passing Mr Lang's (where, by the way, 1 noticed the veteran cricketer busy training a fresh generation of boys in the noble game) and on past Messrs Reid's, Karl's, Vicker's, Drabble'u and Alderson's, some good grazing and cropping paddocks and comfortable homesteads are to be seen. Mr Reid has a fifteen acre paddock of wheat in full ear, as tine a crop as could be dosired. This gentleman's potato crop of nome nix acres also looks very well. Perhaps the mint noticeable improvements in this part of the district are upon thu well-known farm of the Messrs Vickcrs. After allowing their (ino property to carry sheep only fur many yiar; and run gradually back to fern, they evidently malised that it did not lay; miwiti.. :i plea.Hirr, to w> over the pliice, enr.itully rich clean pasture:-,, some (.10 acru.-, of wheat atid oats, ■JO n-jres reuily for .swedes ; this is something mom like fiiriniiig. Although grain sold low h- , . ypiir, a largo area is being grpwn throvißhout thu district Uih in addition to Messrs lteid'd and Vicker's crops, Ibtr Messrs MuMicken have some -10 acres, Mr Drain-:* ■*'», Mr Alderaoii iiO acres, and iillioi' settlors in i>iMportion tu their liolding;:. Much i>! the whuut rowu is nut put on the markoL for dalo, but tfround fur home use at the T» Rore flour mill, aad in tbiu v/ivy not* con.-iderably more to the k'rr.'/er thaa :t tl« millflis price of if-j W

per bushel. Potatoes are also grown to soma extent, every settler having a few acres, and turnips are rapidly becoming .'II important crop, stock-owners realizing that to carry a full number of cattle and sheep, ample provision for their winter feeding must be made. Sheep-breeding has been found in Tuhikararoea (as in many other places) to bo the most profitable branch of farming. Messrs McMicken are shearing over 600 sheep and Vickers 300, every settler keeping more or less of these useful animals. Fruit-growing has not been developed co anything like the extent it deserves, Messrs Lang and R. Carter having the largest and finest orchards in the district. " The latter orchardist should be able to grow a good apple, heinjj a scion from a good fruit - growing family, the Carters, of Mangawai. \o mention of Tuhiltar.imaa, however brief, would be complete without a reference to the masterly manner in which Messrs McMiken Bros, are dealing with their extensive holding. What they found a large btock of almost useless land, broken and intersected with swamps, they are rapidly transforming into a first-class farm, thnse gentlemen possess the true colonising grit. There isone branch of farming which might be successfully established in Tuhikaramea. This is a butter factory or creamery. | Working at a time of the year when grass is abundant and going to waste, the operations of such an establishment would be of much benefit. With eood roads and a compact district, a 500 gallon creamery might be r.tn without interfering very much with their present stock arrangements, and the steady distribution of from £100 to £150 eer month, for six or eight months in the year, is an important factor, which, from a business point of view, should not bo lightly overlooked. It would also largely assist towards what this promising district most needs, an increase in the number of its industrious ssttlers.