A RIDE THROUGH PUKERIMU AT HARVEST-TIME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3051, 4 February 1892, Page 3

A RIDE THROUGH PUKERIMU AT HARVEST-TIME.

(IIY Hint TI'.AVKI.I.INC L'OKIIKsrONDBST.) I''ivk o'clock a.m. is usually considered an niirly hour, even fur milk supplier*; I'ut Mr Anderson ami his suns were stirring long before that, anil nut drafting lambs to senJ to Auckland. A p»«l deal of controversy takes place at times us to the most prolitablo class of sheep to breed, but anyone seeing those beautiful black-faced lambs, bred out of ordinary longwool ewes by Shropshire rams, would have had many of their doubts removed—that is if the object be to raise fat lambs for the English market. The lot in question were sold to the Auckland Freezing Company at ten shillings each, delivered at the Cambridge railway station ; and as the ewes, which cost seven shillings each last autumn, clipped about four shillings worth of wool per head, keeping sheep must be admitted as being very prolitable, particularly as 2o"i sheep—or, if we may add the 10u lambs, 331 altogether—were kept the whole of this season upon 05 acres of pasture. Hut one of the great advantages of the rukorinui land undoubtedly lies in its sandy and porous nature, rendering it easily worked at all seasons. This is especially felt when feeding olf root crops in winter. No matter what the weather may be, tho heaviest bullocks can be packed together on small areas without poaching or dirtying the laud and in spring the paddocks are worked up and sown with grain. This is, in shoit, the history of Fukerimu grain-growing, and tho maernificent crops I saw everywhere is about the best evidence that the system suits the land. With regard to feeding off tho roots, much more care is now taken than formerly, both sheep and cattle on turnips are regularly fed with chaff enstraw, and in some cases with both, it being found that they fatten far quicker by having some dry food. As an instance of what stock can be fed on a limited area, in this manner, Mr Anderson kept 700 sheep for about thirteen weeks last winter on twenty acres of turnips, chaff being supplied in little houses—for they more resemble that than anything else—and straw in cheaply-constructed racks, most of the sheep being sold off fat in tho spring. Mr Anderson cleared £-4 10s per acre from his turnips, and when we consider that the land is then fit for one or more grain crops (Mr Fisher's fine crops of oats being the second in succession), is it any wonder that Fukerimu land is worth £10 per acre. Of course, the district has its drawbacks—wood and water are rather scarce. There is a marked absence of the beautiful springs, to which dwellers in the hilly portions of Waikato are so accustomed, and coal has to be largely used for firing. In looking over Mr Anderson's grain crops, which comprise thirty acres of wheat, and twenty of oats, I noticed that the caterpillars had been at work. These posts appear to be becoming general throughout Waikato.and some damage has also been done to the pastures in the district by the white grub, which seems to destroy the grass m round patches all over the affected fields. Before leaving this part of Fukerimu and its hospitable residents, I should notice the fertile estate of Monavale, belonging to Mr K B. Walker. This fine property comprises about 12,000 acres, and consists largely of swamo, but the latter is of a character easily drained, and well suited for carrying stock. At present there is about a sheep to the acre upon Monavale, besides other stock. A feature in the ;reatment of this swamp is the objection on ;he part of the management to deep burnng a3 a preparation for grass. The swamp s burnt as lightly as possible—generally luring the winter —then the grass is sown, ind the result at Monavale has been highly atisfactory. Following the highway to Cambridge, few grain crops are met with, nil I soon descend thegreat sandy cuttings o the Waikato bridge, under which the apid current rushes with swirling eddies hrough the narrow, rocky channel in a lost uncanny manner. Pondering over he district just left, I come to the cjncluion that for practical farming Fukerimu is ard to beat, but with all its rich land the ottters seem to work just as hard as those ii poorer districts. Wealth is not happiess, neither, apparently, does good land iringease. Ridinsr up through Duke-street, he principal one in Cambridge, I found hough the morning was from a farmer's ioint of view well advanced, that usually msy thoroughfare completely empty—not a onl, not a sound. Even the extensive prenises of that leviathan among storekeepers, ?homas Wells, were closely barred and buttered, the great signboard over the irincipal entranco leaning over the footlath in a melancholy manner, as though neditating a final plunge into the deserted treet. The only spot really wide awake vas the Cambridge railway station. _ Here II was bustle, the locomotive rushing up ,nd down, giving those short shrieks after he manner so characteristic of railway ngines. though for what purpose is, I beieve, to the general public a hidden mysery unless, perhaps, it may b6 to show the .uthority of those in charge. Following the main road to Hamilton, 10 one can fail to notice the number uf >retty suburban residences, generally surounded by well laid-out grounds and orliards, the'skirtsof the town betokening on ho part of its residents an amount of enter>rise and good taste that is worthy of iiniation elsewhere. The first grain-growing arm along this road is that of Mr Vrnold, who had some large crops of wheat, nostly in stook. This is a well laid-out iroperty, and the fine flock of sheep fathered under the pine trees tor shelter lid not in any way detract from its appear.nee. Opposite is the estate formerly Auckland's, but lately purchased by Mr futchen, a gentleman from Gisborne. A hort distance further on Mr Forrest's padlocks are reached. This gentleman has ome fine crops of grain just being harvested. )pposite I saw a largo field of Mr Clarke's, ho land being worked up beautifully for urnips. Along this road there are not nany grain crops, the next I came to being \h- Russell's and Mr Souter's some of this -rain was in stack, but a large quantity .till stood in the field. Mr Morgan also lad a long strip of grain lying back from ,he main road. On both sides I could see n tho distance, the ne.v made stacks, which .old of harvesting operations nearly competed, and there is no doubt that a large juantity of grain will bo turned out from his district, but the crops, judging by those ie.tr the road side, were not so heavy as in .'ukerimu. Somo good farming is shown doner this Cambridge-Hamilton road, and omo very slovenly work also. The hedges ;enei\illy showed a considerable amount of ieglect, and I was sorry to see in somo laddocks of good land, tho briar and other reeds spreading unchecked.

Mr C. Day's wheat at lamahere came as a most fitting wind-up to a grain inspecting trip. I don't know that I ever saw a more beautiful held of grain. Standing dead ripe with the heads a perfect level, and the drooping boughs of some large willows mingling their green foliage with the golden grain, it certainly formed a pretty picture, and. what is of more consequence to Mr Day, promised a heavy yield. Very littlo grain is grown between bore and Hamilton, I reached the Hamilton butter factory just as Mr Jones, the manager, formerly of Newstoad, was dismissing his last man at 10 a.m. Mr Jones informed mo that the supply this season has been less than formerly. Soma 700 gallons of milk arc going through. The fact is, that settlers are finding sheep quite as profitable, and infinitely less laborious than supplying milk. The dairy firms should tako the hint, and give the machine which regulates their tariff of prices, another screw upwards. At the corner I am reminded by Mr Hooper's potatoes—which if I mistake not, I immortalised in a former note—that during my ride I saw very few potato crops, and even those were only small patches. The season has been very favourable for potatoes (I mean the growth, not the prices), but it is very evident that the crop is not regarded with much favour, at all events in the districts I passed through. I was also rather surprised at the large proportion of oats grown, considering the low prices that have ruled of late for this cereal, as against the promising outlook for wheat. However my business is to chronicle, not to furnish reasons.

But I am sure I will have the reader with me, in trusting that our Waikato grain growers will have a 'jood harvest, and fair prices, so that they may, for once, come out—as the Americans say—"at the top of the heap."