CANTERBURY FARMS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7253, 8 March 1889, Page 2

CANTERBURY FARMS.

Kaiapoi Island is composed of something like 10,000 acres of land, the greater portion of which cannot be surpassed in fertility. The island is encora. passed on all sides by the far-famed and treacherous river Waimakariri (or " much water" of the Maoris). Amongst the many farms into which the island is divided, the farm of Mr Thomas Pa>hViy, known as Elm wood, is perhaps one of the best. The farm consists of 200 acres, all alluvial soil. The land was originally covered with tussock grass and native flax, which had only to be cleared away to make it ready for the plough. The soil is composed for the roost part of alluvial deposit, the fertility of which will be readily appreciated, when it is stated that on a considerable portion of the farm beans and wheat have been grown alter, nately for a period of thirty years (with the exception of four years, when the land was laid out to grass). The wheat and beane have avjkragad forfcy-five bushels each year throughout the long course of years (rill last year, when the return was sixty bushels of wheat and sixty-two of beans, and this year the wheat looks like a sixty bushel crop. The ordinary course of rotation on the balance of the farm i s two years in grass, followed by cereals and root crops. The island of Kaiapoi is famed for the excellence of its root crops. Last year Mr Pashby obtained at the rate of forty tons of swedes per acre. This is nothing uncommon. J Any one who has visited the annual show of roots and cereals held annually at Kaiapoi, will have in their mind's eye a vivid recollection of the monstrous roots exhibited. The farm at JSlmwood is for the most part devoted to corn growing, but there ie a stud flock of Lincoln ewes which have made themselves famous in the show yards. Some little time ago we had occasion to notice the extraordinary yield of wool which was obtained from eleven Lincoln hogget rams belonging to Mr JHurse of Rangiora, and. bred by Mr Pashby. The average yield was 251b of clean (unwashed) wool, the heaviest fleec c weighing 291b and the lightest 221b. M r Pashby assures us that these rams have never been artificially fed, with the exception of a few mangolds or turnips in severe winter weather. On the occasion of our late visit to Elmwood we saw the famous fullmouthed ewe, Lady Elmwood. She has not yet been shorn, as it is the intention of the owner to send her to South America, in company with the eleven rams above referred to and purchased by Mr Hurse for shipment to that country. Some idea of this splendid ewe may be formed when we assert that we saw her weighed, and that she turned the scale at 236 lbs. Aβ she has 15 months wool upon her it may fairly be assured that it would weigh 301bs, if not more. We may here state that paintings of the sire (Wilberforce) and dam (Lady Derwent) of this remarkable sheep are now on view at the rooms of the Agri. cultural and Pastoral Association previous to being sent to the Dunedin Exhibition. There is also a painting of Lady Derwent's sire and dam, Ebor and Princess Alice, to be seen at the same office. Ttye condition and perfection to which this stud flock have been brought by what may be termed natural means, epaaks volumes for the excellence of the soil upon which they have been bred as well, as for the skill of the breeder. Mr Pashby next showed us his nice lot of etud mares, which have given good account of themselves in the show rings, as verified by the number] of Ist prize tickets which stud the mangers over the horaee' heads. The present stock of mares are bred up from two imported mares originally purchased for Mr William Norman, who was well kHOwn as ojie of the early and most prosperous farmers on the Island. The Island ha 3 numerous plantations of trees and high hedgerows of gorse, thorns and poplars, suggesting ample cover for the übiquitous sparrow. On enquiring as to the ravages committed by these and other marauders of the feathered tribe Mr Pashby informed us that no doubt the birds did a considerable amount of damage, particularly to the early crops. Still it had to be admitted that since their introduction the farmers had not been troubled with caterpillars, which previously caused much damage to grain. In the early days before the intro. Auction of tfie sparrow the farmers used frequently to sow the headlands round th e corn field with European flax, which had the effect of saving the corn from the caterpillars. As is always the case with good land, weeds, if permitted, will growr apace. The farms of the Island, at least-some of them, are not noted for the absence of weeds, quite the contrary, for we saw forests of common thistles topping the fences in many places, and we regret to have to report that the Californian thistle has established itself in many farms, and if not got rid of, while it may be, it will become one of the greatest scourges the country has yet seen. While on thi e subject we may mention that we have received information of the appearance of this weedin some turnip crops; it is reported to have come up in drills with the seed, in - dicating that it must have been sown with the turnips seed. If so, all that we can say ie that it argues carelessness on the part of the farmers. The seed of the Californian thistle, although much smaller than the ordinary Scotch thistle, still is so different in shape from the turnip seed that the most casual observer musthare noticed its presence. We are rather inclined' to think that the weed was previously in the soil. However, should these remarks come under the notice of anyone having the •weed upon their land, we would strongly advise them to poll it up by hand; it in more effective than cutting—that is, course, where they are not too numerous* At Elmwood there is a fine orchard, many of the trees being borne to the ground with fruit. We were told that the Island was famed for its fruit trees. Looking at th e wealth of fruit, we could not help thinking of the rain which would attend the introduction of thecodlin moth to our orchards. As an in stance of the depth to which the roots of clover will penetrate, Mr Paahby told us that he had traced the roots for a depth of sis feet, down to the water. These roots were laid bare by the falling away of the banks of the river—a circumstance of no uncommon occurrence Iα the memory of Mr Pashby and other old settlers the river has washed away whole paddocks, and places -which are now open shingly river beds were once flourishing paddocks of corn and grass. The dairy industry i» not carried on to such an extent on the Island as it might with advantage, but the certainty of corn, beans and potato crops may give the best reason for this state of things. This cursory glance at Mr Pasuby's farm would not be com! plete were we to omit to mention that amongst the live stock of the farm there is

a real live albatross. How he came there no one knows—suffice it to say that he was found in one of the wheat fields when being cut. The creature looks sadly out of place, still it eats its food fairly well, and appears to be inclined to accommodate itself to its new circumstances. We measured its wings, which we found to be four feet each, thus giving it a spread of nine feet, allowing for the body.