JOHN A. FLEMING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 290, 19 September 1936, Page 8

JOHN A. FLEMING

METHODS AT “YTHAN,” LISMORE. BREEDER OF DRAUGHT HORSES. INTEREST IN WHEAT CROWING. (Specially written for the “Guardian” by John Brown). It is 38 years since John Anderson Fleming—or as bis associates in MidCanterbury call him, Jock Fleming first settled in Lismore on a small educational leasehold property near . the ford crossing the Hinds to Bariord and the north. " His father and mother, Mr and Mrs William Fleming, were among the pioneers who settled at what, is now known as Flomington—the district being named after the man. William Fleming was a Scotchman from Ayrshire who was attracted, to the gold diggings, then to. South bridge, before settling in Flomington.. He was a lover of horses and more than once lie brought shipments of horses from Australia. He took a keen interest in show stock and draught horse breeding. It was lrom him that Thomas Taylor, of Ashton, bought his famous foundation mare “Dawn.” John Fleming, when lie began breeding went to Thomas Taylor ior bis foundation mare, “Queen Mary” (known as Bonnie) for which he paid 80 guineas (big money in those days). But she was well worth it, as she has left many prize takers anti workers—as is evidenced in the “Ythan” and “Portobella” Silver Cups for most points in the draught horse section at the Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Show, and the “Rarnswood” Challenge cup for the best six-horse team —each of these won outright by Air Fleming after several years showing. Before going to Lismore John Fleming was in the employ of Mawson Bros., of Westerfield. and it was here that ho met his future wife, Miss Corclery, of Christchurch, who was a teacher in the school. In a small house built on the leasehold property Mr and Airs John Fleming made their first home. For some years he did contract work on Barford and Clear well estates just across the river. As time went on and money became available he parted with his leasehold and bought 230 acres of first-class land just above it. Later again lie purchased 670 acres of good shoe]) country across the road. On this farm of 900 acres he runs 900 Corriedale ewes and 200 hoggets besides a pure-bred (but not registered) flock of English Leieestcrs. The foundation owes of the latter were bought from Air George Anderson, of Maronan, and lie lias carried on with rams from the flocks of Messrs R. J. Low and Elworthy and Lincoln College. On the best land along the river bank lie grows his wheat. For many vears he grew Pearl and was very successful with it, but the risk of getting it blown out was too great. He now grows either Hunter’s or solid straw Tuscan and in normal years lie can depend on forty bushels per acre. He grows only sufficient oats for his horses and sheep. On the sheep country Air Fleming grows hardy green globe turnips very successfully. His usual treatment of lOOlbs of superphosphate per acre when sowing the seed in 1 lineh centres was supplemented this year by a cross-drilling of another 100 llis of super, and there was a most marked increase of crop on the main acreage compared with a small block treated with only one application of super. In addition to turnips ho grows rape for lamb fattening purposes. Ho is a great believer in lime. This year lie top-dressed his land with nO tons of carbonate of lime, and in past years lie lias limed consistently. On the alluvial soil his usual seeding is 20lhs of Perennial Ryegrass, i

511 is of elnvgrass and sometimes an addition of 51 bs of Cocksfoot. On the sheep country it is 151bs of Perennial

Ryegrass, 41bs of cowgrass and 71bs of Cocksfoot. In order to work his ground lio uses a six-horse team, and a tractor, the former driven by his son-in-law, Mr Jacob, and the latter by his son Allan. Tho tractor has rubber tyres. Allan is a tractor enthusiast, so lie is not following strictly in the steps of his father and his grandfather, though of course he would not be a Fleming it lie did not know more than the average about driving, feeding and breeding horses. But it is machinery he glories in. There is a fine range of good implements on the farm. On a lime sower were rubber-tyred wheels—a thing I had never seen before on such an implement. Tlie stable is well built, warm In winter and cool in summer with a (rood brick floor and with electric light faid on. In the loft above is stored tho oatshcaf cliaff —with chutes down which the chaff is shot to tho bins below. The loft holds 20 tons of chaff. Tho largo implement shod stretches along the side ot the building. All the carting of grain and manure is done by a two-ton truck. \\ itli this machine eight trips a day can he made to the Hinds railway station—rather a difference from the old horse and drnv method. . , , In public work Mr Fleming lias done bis fair share for the district. ahe VC ar alter be came to 'Lismorc lie was appointed a .member of the school committee and, with tho exception of one year, he served continuously- on it for over 30 years—for some years as chairman. „ , _ , , On tho old Kangitata Road Board he served as member and chairman and be was chairman of tlie local Prcsbytoiian Church committee. The Mayfield district lias a strong Agricultural and Pastoral Association and tho committee runs its show well. John Fleming inherited Ins love of horses and show work from Ins father and in the second year of tho Association’s existence he was appointed president. A few years ago he was again appointed to the position—a high compliment from liis fellow fannei s. Mr Fleming has been for many years a member of the committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association. . His keen interest in wheat growing led him to join the New Zealand SVheatorowers' Association and he was a member of the Electoral Committee of that body, and he is at present on the Electoral Committee of "hinted Wlieatgrowers,” a body specially set up to look after the interests or all tho wlieatgrowers of New Zealand. In ploughing matches his lino sixhorse team has always been at tho service of competitors and M r ieming himself lias naturally taken a very keen interest in the matches. It is seldom that one finds a whole family so enthusiastic in the working of the Farmers’ Union as is the JHenv ing family. Mr Fleming very many years ago belonged to the old Ashburton branch—at that time the only union in the County. When the Mayfield branch was formed ho joined up there and is still a member. His son, Allan, makes a very able secretary for this Union, and his keenness in the work and knowledge of it are soon apparent in talking with him. On the women’s side of the I armors Union, in Mrs Fleming and her two daughters Mrs Biddick and Mrs Jacob, and in Mrs Allan'Fleming, the Union has most enthusiastic workers. _ Mrs Fleming attended the first meeting or women called in Ashburton to interest farmers’ wives in the work of the of the Women’s Division. When the Ashburton branch was formed she was made vice-president and a year later president—which position she held lor three years. When the jVlid-Cantei-hurv Executive was formed she was elected its first president and was instrumental in forming live of -the branches. She is at present president of the branch in her own district—a position Mrs Jacob has already Idled. Mrs Biddick is just as keenly interested in the work and for a time she held thci position of secretary of tlie Aslilnuton branch. ... , ~ A splendid work is being done all over New Zealand by the Women s Division of the Farmers’ Union, jhe housekeepers’ scheme has proved a blessing to many harrassed households and the women responsible in Mid-Can-terbury are to he specially commended for the excellent way this scheme is now being handled.