SPRINGFIELD ESTATE, METHVEN

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 6

SPRINGFIELD ESTATE, METHVEN

A VISIT OF INSPECTION

A representative of "The Press" paid a visit on Wednesday to thc Springfield Estate. Methven, the property ol the trustees of the rate Duncan Cameron. On every hand are to be soon signs of prosperity and a bountiful harvest. Tlie writer found Mr John Stewart, the manager, very busy in the harvest field, ho having made a start that, morning cutting a paddock of 290 acres of Canadian oat_, a splendid, well-headed crop. There aro twelve binders —t work in ihis paddock. Tho sheaves are very thick on th© ground, and the crop will thresh out at fully fifty bushels per acre.

Owing to the horses being turned o_ii lately in good grass paddocks tliev ai-? rather "collar proud" for the first day or so; but Mr Stewart hoped to have

everything going without a liitch by T„_rs__y at latest. He has quite, a small army of men employed stooking, etc.. and he informed the writer that the crops aro sufficiently advanced to allow htm to proceed with the cutting until the entire harvest on Springfield is finished. Tho nest paddock visited was No. 13 on the pian, containing _13 acres of Tuscan wheat, which, although rather light in patches, will thresh out fuliy 20 to 25 bushels per acre. On the other side of the road from this paddock lie lots 12 and 15, sown with Velvet wheat, and without doubt- it is a magnificent crop. Tho area, is aboat 520 acres. The crop is standing over five feet high, and io exceedingly well hos.dod, and is ready for the winders at any time. On rubbing out somo of the grain in the baud an exceedingly good sample is to be seen, plump and well filled. Two years ago these paddocks were almost e__Lroly covered with weeds; but. this not being in accordance with the lato Mr C—moron's iueas of farming, he put all his teams ti: work and skim-ploughed, harrovnt, disced, and ploughed again, and r-iUed up overy piece of weed and burned .l. This was continued for several weeks, nnd the result is to be seen now .„ tho splendid crop of wheat. These pa-Hou!_s are at present tho cleanest, and in.«t tree from weeds of any on tho esi-tte. Lot 11 is a paddock containing t';}s acres, and has v splendid crop of kale, and as tho estate has nnd a record season for lambs, no doubt this paddock will do its share towards turning out tlie '"prime Canterbury" that •Springfield is so famous for. Special mention may bo made of lot 7, a paddock of 26S acres of velvet wheat, which without exception is. about equal to any tho writer has ever seen. It is a very thick, even crop, and should thresh out at between 50 and 60 bushels per acre. There is not a single piece of light crop in the wholo paddock. It will be re.idy tor the binders in about a week's time. Adjoining the above, there arc three paddocks of rape and grass of a total area of about -170 acres. It would bo very difficult to equal this crop, and it could not be excelled in hho Methven district. The. general appearance cf Springfield reflects great credit on the late Mr Duncan Cameron, who personally saw to the supervision of the estate almost up to tho timo of his death, and Mr Stewart, tlie present manager, admits that tho high state of cultivation now existing on the property is entirely duo to tho late Mr Cameron's rotation of crops.