CROSS-COUNTRY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 2

CROSS-COUNTRY NOTES.

AROUND MAXWELLTOWN. [Fit Oil. Omi TeAVELLING CoEEESrONDENT.] "Maxwelltora braes are bonnio" —aye they an; that. I don't know I havi over soon such a beautiful stretch of coUtitrj as thcro is in this district. From Westmon on to Whenuakwa is one long expanse ,o. the greenest of paddocks. There way bi better land in the Wellington Province", bm I. doubt if there is an equal extent of sucl clear country. A largo area is being brouglll under the plough lor rajie and turnips. 1 have seen some very promising wheat paddci'ks, which, given an average' season, should result in very profitable returns liexl yea''. Shearing is in full swing. Jlanj sheds have machines iu, and others are beiuij installed. A Waricd Product. 'What a marvellous country this has been fo" rata; never have 1 seen them, standing so thick —huge grove.; of them ; immense tin's, too. It does sum a pity thai thousalitis of cords of spleii-ii,! firewood should be going to waste. Though it is only a few miles from the rail, b\ good summer roads, 1 am told that it does not p-iy in send jt away. A limited quitttit.y taken out of tho paddocks, bui. it is merely a lleabite compared with the enormous supply. I have seen more partridges — there is no doubt about them now—and I also saw a splendid cock-pheasant, as well as the partridges. Loclied-up Land. I was showna largo hit of bush—Government laud —which is still held back from selection. It is only four or live miles from OkrJju Station. lam told that several attempts have been made to get it thrown open, without avail. Of courso, there may bo good reasons why, but to an outsider it does seem strange to see unoccupied land right in the middle, so to say, of selected country, especially when wo arc told over and over again of tho "land hunger." In this particular block there is snilicient to cut up into a good number of farms.

At least one settler's.rapo has escaped tho slug and fly. I noticed a paddock belonging to Mr. F. Handloy looking tip-top. The soil in these districts is particularly adapted to growing root crops, being a rich, light loanu The farmers hero have had very little, if any, trouble with turnip blight. The soil, being so porous, does not hold the water. It has just occurred to mo, in writing of big ratas, that some years ago my brother and I measured a rata at Rimbolton, just behind where the store is now. Tho girth 4ft. from the ground was 52ft. Of course, like all these giants, it was hollow.

Another lino sight now is the rewa-rowa, or honeysuckle. They are blooming very freely this season. There is also a great wealth of all nativo flowers in the bush, the black vino being very conspicuous, and the air is also heavily scented with clematis and late rangiora. Potatoes for the season aro very forward; many plots are already earthed up. So far 1 have soon no blight, but have hoard it is in the district. Given drier weather, we shall not have much blight. Box Thorn Hedges. A thing which should be attended to by the County Council is the leaving of trimming? from box thorm hedges on the roadside. A great many such hedges aro. to be seen in these districts, taking the place of gorso. The obiectionablo feature about the practice is that travelling sheep pick up the spines in their wool. At shearing time these aro apt to poison the hands of the shearers. 11l many cases men v. hose .hands have suffered in this way have been quite incapacitated lor three and four months. 1 havo beard that some men will not shear sheep on farms where there aro box thorn hedges, and it is not to be wondered at. A Handsome Return. Jf'at stock has been giving handsome returns to some of the farmers about bore.

One man told mo he had got up to £7 103. for fat co'jVs, and. £12 10s. l'or bullocks on the farm —good 'prices indeed. The dairy folk are also doing well. Of course, they can't help it with such splendid grass country. At Mr. James. Peat's, near Waitotara, where they are milking' on shared, tho weight one (lay last week from ninety-nine cows was .3121)11). Another farmer, Mr. A. Howie, had 15001b. from thirty-seven cows. As the milk

from these go to the AVaverley Cheese factory, it should mean a sp.lendid return this season. Mr. Howie has used ensilage lor some years. The siio being cut out of a sandstone hank, it keeps in grand condition. The stock \aro very fond ot it, and give a good (low of milk whilo keeping in tip-top condition.