STATE FARMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 498, 4 May 1909, Page 8

STATE FARMS.

.The vineyards at the 'Waefohga Experimental Station have produced 'siome'4o tons of grapes during the past season (writes lour 'Auckland correspondent). Some 5300 gallons of wine have been made, and the cellars are •now,, well stocked.' Tho Hon. A.-,W., Hogg is proposed ,to- subdivide a portion of, the< estate into a number of each or an area of about 50 acres. : Each'.tenant will have about 20 acres of orchard, 2f acres for grass and general crops, and about four aqresVof vines. The wattle' bark plantation is producing good results, about 150 tons of.a value of over £1000 having boon'obtained during' the past season. The , .question of erecting a tannery in; connection-with the farm is now under consideration. •■ , i. ]. Tho appreciation in value.of the Ruakura! State Farm since it was purchased '• by the Government' is ; ,' shown'- by.', the fact that as much as £70 an acre has been recently offered for a portion of the estate. The land ■ was purchased at} an average price of £6 17s. an acre, and it is considered that jf.jt. were now placed : in the market it, would. realise an average of. about £25 an acre.