GHATS WITH THE FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 4

GHATS WITH THE FARMERS.

A Visit to Kosebank, the Farm of Mr

Adam Bell, Bltjeskiu.

Mr Bell landed in Dunedin 21 years ago, from Gallashiels, Tweedside, his native place. He was not brought up to farming, but in hia youth bad been instructed in the mysteries of dyke-building. On his arrival, Mr Bell took up his residence in Dunedin, living in London street for a year, and afterwards in the North-east Valley for five months. He obtained work at his trade on the farm of Mr Adam Begg, at Anderson's Bay, where a large amount of his work may yet be seen. He moved from the North-east valley to Blueskin, where he had obtained work at road-making. Having saved a little money, he bought 50 acres, and put up a two- roomed cottage on it. He then got emploj ment at his old trade of dyke-buildine; on Hamilton and Webb's station, Maniotofco Plains, leaving Mrs Bell and the sons to lcok after matters at home. The lower portion of . the ground, through which the Waitati stream runs, was covered with flax, which grew luxuliautly, attaining a height of 10ft. A portion of this was cleared during Mr Bell's absence by hia wife and eons. The upper part of the land was covered with manuka, and when Mr Bell came back from Maniofcoto, he and his eons commenced cutting this

for posts' and rails and firewood. In the meantime an acre of the land whioh had i been cleared of flax was planted with potatoes, and cabbages were planted in the ! remainder. This crop of potatoes was the moot prolifia and ihe most profifcabla crop i ever taken from the Hnd. The rush to Gabriel's Gully was at its height at this time, and everything was dear. The potatoes sold for 2a and 3s per stone, and were in demand for seed, in consequence of their fine quality. Next year potatoes and cabbages were again planted, and were again sold at extreme prices, the latter actually fetching 7s per dozen, tho men making the main road being the principal customers. The cutting of the firewood and preparing the posts and rails for the market was proceeded with, the firewood, until the opening of the Northern line of railway being carted to Dunedin, and sold at from 323 to 40s per cord. Mr Bell estimates the firewood he has taken from his ground at 500 cords, and the number of rails at 40,000, which have been sold at an average of 303 per hundred. Stocking the f arm waa commenced on a very flmall scale on Mr Bell's return from Maniototo— the purchase of one Ayrshire cow from Mr Begg, for £15, being the first step. The present stock consists of six cows. 13 young cattle, a first-class brood mare^ two foals, five draught horses, a spring cart pony, pigs, &c. The first foal from the mare was by Sir George Grey, and is now three years old ; the second (a two-year-old) ia by Black Hero, and she is at present in foal to Samson. During the " flax era" Mr Bell and his sons went in for flax-dressing, the eldest Bon putting up Jbhe mill, which was driven by means of an overshot wheel turned by water brought in a race 15 chains Ion? from the Waitati. The flaxshed and barn were contained in one building, a chain in length, and were unfortunately burnt down in tbe height of flax prosperity, fche loss being estimated at £300. Prior to the fire a ton and a half of flax was turned out per week, the most of it being sold to the late Mr Manning at £18 per ton. In the best time, however, £25 per ton was obtained. Since the fire the water from the race has been utilised for driving the wheel, which works a threshing-mill and chaffcutter, these having also been put up by the eldest son. The wheel is 13 feet in diameter, and is much smaller than the one which waa used for the flax mill. A quantity of three-inch drainage pipes have been put in, at a coßt of £30. The drainage is easily effected, through the Waitati running through the property. This fact is not, however, an unmixed blessing, as ia stormy weather the stream frequently overflows its banks, not only inundating part of the land, but carrying away bridges, and often taking away large quantities of soil from the ground adjacent to fche river bed. The Waitati is a fcroufc stream, and affords good sport in the season. It alio contains quantities of eels. The farm ia fenced with post-and-rail fences, and is divided in the middle by a fence of the same description. There are about 30 chains of .hawthorn hedge. The soil is black loam to a' depth of six or eight inches, with a clay subsoil. This year the crops consist of —Oats, 10 acres ; potatoes, one acre ; turnips, one acre ; and carrots, half an acre. Clearing fche ground from stumps cost about £10 per acre, but of course was much more than compensated for by the sale of the rails and firewood previously taken from it. The orchard contains apples, plums, cherries, and the usual small fruit, and is half an acre" In extent. It ia intended to enlarge it neyt season. Attention has been paid to treeplanting, one of the sons having taken this matter in hand. He has succegßf ully raised from seed pinna insignia, macrocarpa, ash, cypress, &c, and a number of each have been planted out. And now a word, for Mrs Rosa. Three of the cows are at present in milk, and the others are expected to calve shortly. From the present supply of milk Mrs Ross makes 22 Ib 3of butter per week, and this is sold in Dunedin. When butter is cheap, she salts it down, keeping ifc till winter, when she gets 15d, per pound for it. Cheese is only made for home consumption. Mrs Boss has taken a number of prizes for both butter (powdered) and cheese at the Blueskin Agricultural Society's Show, commencing nine years ago, when she took the firßt prizs for cheese. She has also taken a prize for Aylesbury ducks. Her fowls are at present of the Poland breed, and number about 30. She has tried various kinds, and thinka that the Polands are the most profitable, judging from the quantity of eggs they lay. Only young fowls are kept, for as soon as they reaoh two years old they are killed or otherwise disposed of. From a dozen and ahalf to two dozen eggs per day are at present being got. The family (five sons and one daughter) are all grown up, the two eldest sons having a farm leased from Mr Anderson, at Stirling. They were previously at Inch Clutha, and were losers to a consider, able extent by the flood, having had 150 acres of wheat and oats totally destroyed, besides, losing £200 worth of wheat and potatoes, the product of the previous year. During the flood they had 17 horses and 15 head of cattle on a sandbank surrounded by water, the feed for which bad to be brought in a boat from the opposite aide. This year they have 300 acres of the Stirling farm under wheat and oats. Rosebank itself is a model of neatness, and from its general appearance we should say that Mr Bell fully understands the valne of the motto of " a place for everything, and everything in itß plaoe."