GREAT POTENTIALITIES OF SPARSELY SETTLED DISTRICT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

GREAT POTENTIALITIES OF SPARSELY SETTLED DISTRICT

rpHK excellent reputation on joyed by JL tin, |i; lV of Plenty as one of the foremost irg-r-ieullurul areas ol the Auckland province, is largely shared l--\ Tauranga (,'ounty, which extends from tlie eastern boundary ol the W add Plains to the vicinity of the .Matata ’ distrifit, and comprises an area <>t 418,ddS acres. The wliule of this area is protected from the southerly amt westerly winsj.s by a hush ehnl loulying range, sloping gently hack from almost sea level and attaining a maximum heigiit of seme lilteen hundred J'«>et about twenty miles from the coast. Tin's protecting rim. running roughly in a semi-circle parallel with the Hay itself, gives to the whole ot the eounly on invaluable protection from the colder winds. Tins protection, added to its delightfully north-easterly as]ject to the day-long sun, gives to the district that genial climate to which nothing in the l>omiiiion is comparable. And probably nowhere else on the eastern shores of New Zealand is the Pacific Ocean more appropriately mimed than where it laps the shores of the Hay of Plenty. From vantage points all over tlio comity beautiful panoramas. insulas and islands, meet the eye. Numerous rivers—large and small —intersect the land and wend their way to the sea. The fanners, like the pioneers of most parts of Zealand, haro experienced many vicissitudes. In the early days they relied mainly on tho rearing of cattle and growing of maize, ‘ wheat and oats for tho necessary finance to carry on. /About a quarter of a-eentury ago tho dairying Industry was successfully launched and established and to-day the local farmers possess three flourishing butter factories at .Katikati, Tauranga and Tc Pnkc respectively. These three concerns represent the main sources of the prosperity which local farmers now enjoy. Each factory has developed from small beginnings until to-day they are equipped with plant able to deal with tlie product of about seventeen thousand cows. Capable directors guide the affairs of each company and tho result has ‘been that the suppliers have been able to secure the fullest returns for their produce. True, the standard of the milking herds is not vet comparable with New Zealand’s host, hut, persistent effort in the direction of securing pedigree Jerseys, Holstcins. Shorthorns, and other cattle is having its effect, and not a few of the cows in the county herds to-day are amongst tho fpominiotPs host butter-fat producers. This fact was demonstrated at the agricultural shows held at Tauranga, Katikati and Te Puke in February fast, at each of which the dairy cattle predominated, the pens containing dairy stock of the very best type. Another factor in the development ol the dairy industry is the establishment of cow-testing associations at Tauranga, Tc Puke and Katikati. The object of these associations is to elimiim--ate tho “robber" cows and to repJiuathem with high-producing amends that will meet the cost of maiuucmanco and leave the owner a surplus co rnoeti ids otl expenses. The associations; arc doing good work amf must here, ns elsewhere, amply repay the farmer the costs many times over. Good pastures are the first essential for successful; dairy farming, English grasses thrive well in Tauranga connIvV. (hn the rich drained swamps tlxgrasses grow to perfection, while em the higher lauds splendid results- anobtained by top-dressing. The use- ot lime is also essential in this district:, hut, unfortunately, transport charges- - to-day ’add greatly to the tosr. At hen the railway is linked np< with t\ a ill 6 lime will be available an a greatly reduced price, and the- consequent benefit to tho district will be incalculable. Supplementary lodder crops do particularly well throughout the wholecounty, especially lucerne, green maize, millet, barley, etc. It rs confidently claimed that lucerne grows in ccrtans parts of the Tauranga district as good asif- not better than, anywhere else nr Sew Zealand. The lucerne stands-,, of course, must receive proper treatment, and when this is tho case they respond splendidly and give weight yields far and away in excess of any other fod:lcr crops. Lucerne growing is not an experiment here; it is an established

[art. as will be noted by a reference to the achievements on Mr H. 0. Lever s farm, which arc enumerated elsewhere in this i>siie. As a green food, or as hay, lucerne stands on a plane by itself. Another excellent fodder lor dairy cattle is green maize, it may ho planted in the Spring and is ready for feeding out to tho stock before Christmas, it is invaluable as a milk producer, and requires no special cultivation whatever. M hen there is a sutplns it may he put into silo, and led out in tlie winter, but '“siloing' 1 does not receive much attention boro, as most farmers prefer to feed with hay,, maize stalks, kutnikumi and turnips. The fact remains however, that if the silo ever comes into general use in this district, there will he no trouble in Ailing it with green maize. Millet and barley are two crops that come away quickly and arc now grown extensively on many farms for dairy stock. The district is well adapted for tho production of soft turnips and swedes, and these are grown on a fairly extensive scale. Tho swedes arc fed off in the winter, maize stalks being tho “ran-olf." O«o of tho "CocJc crops is tho kumiknmi, which is planted with the maize. The kumikumi belongs to the gourd family, and grows exceptionally well all over the county. If necessary it may be fed out in February, but more generally it is left in the field until tho cobs aro picked from the maize. Tho paddock is then thrown open. A man goes iu with a longhandled spade er shovel, and gives each kumikumi a “cut” in order to break it for the cattle. Stock aro very fond of tho kumikumi and consume every particle. The yield to tho acre is very, heavy and it is quite possible for a person entering a field to step from ono gourd to th© other without touching

the "round at any point. The knmikumi seems to grow in hut a limited area of Now Zealand and apparently it favours the maize-growing belt. It is not a '‘fluky” crop, and may always be wlied on for a splendid yield. Its adaptability to this district is beyond question, and without doubt, It is a groat adjunct on all farms. It is also a great fond for pigs and poultry. There are various kinds of kumikumi, and in view of its value the Deportment of Agriculture might well direct its attention to ascertaining the best variety to grow. A portion of flit' output of the Tauvanga County dairy factories is disposed of mi the New Zeals lid market, but by iar the greater part of it is sold for export. The freezing chamber and fho liritish market Slave, as w-c all know, made the. dairy vug industry in New Zealand. In the early days of the Colony, the pioneers, who made this country the rich heritage that it is to-day, counted themselves fortunate if they could gcjt four-pence per pound for the limited quantity of butter then made. There is no escaping the conviction that dairy fanning on the suitable lands in the County of Taurauga can lie made a profitable occupation and that the soil and climate offer special facilities for success, as crops of various kinds can be grown to supplement pastures and carry the stock through the dry period iu good condition, and dairy stock, above all others, must ’be "ell eared tor; in fact they cannot bo given too much attention. In the near future electric power will bo available* throughout the county and will bo of material assistance to the dairy farmer iu carrying ou his v/orJf.

————a - bu ;~:^rT^r^^rT^ try .he Coun . y .w.. comi n g of —«». *« a^em c_~n k Oß inn!n Ps Dairying Industry is rapidly growing, but large portion or h