EXTENSIVE HARVESTING OPERATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3065, 8 March 1892, Page 2

EXTENSIVE HARVESTING OPERATIONS.

We have lately read in a southern exchange an account of some harvesting operations in the Ashburton County that in comparison to similar undertakings in this district, reads mora like a clipping from an American paper than as an actual occurrence in New Zealand. Tin report, after describing a number of well-cultivated holdings in the Wakanui and adjacent districts, proceeds to deal with the Springfield Estate, owned and occupied by Mr Duncan Cameron, who has this season, it is claimed, the largest area of grain crop ever yet grown by one individual in New Zealand, comprising some 7000 acres, mostly under wheat. At the time the report \va3 written harvest operations had been ftiirly started, and a paddock containing 300 acres of wheat had been cut and stooked between Monday afternoon and Wednesday evening, eleven machines being engaged at the work. On the following day twenty-two reapers and binders were at work on different portions of the property, and to keep these machines going a staff of one hundred and thirtythree hands were employed. When the stacking commences an additional eighty hands will be required. The report concludes : "Mr Cameron evidently works his land well, for on all sides were evidences of good farming, and all the cr.ip_ is particularly free from weeds. Harvest with Mr Cameron will last about six or seven weeks from the time he commenced, and, given a good spell of fine weather, the Springfield Estate will put up the best record it has yet made. An immense amount of labour is employed on this magnificent property during the course of the year, and there is no doubt whatever but that overy acre of the land is turned_ to the best account. The manner in which this and a large number of other farms in the Ashburton County are farmed should satisfy the most exacting critic."