IN THE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 961, 31 October 1910, Page 10

IN THE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY.

GOOD GRASS AND GOOD SHEEP. (Prom Our Travelling Correspondent.) . "Wo cut down the bush and get rid of .it. as, quickly as. possible. Tho next thing: is wo start planting trees in tho saine(place.!' So said- ; a iiarigao'ne farmer}' ; :And,, reaUy, in.'sompVplaces it is wonderful 1 how differently pines and hiacvocarpas grow in comparison with others. About Kaitawa these trees seem to flourish, and have mado quito dense plantations., Another treo wliich does, weir in. that'district is tho larch. In all my travels I have never seen them doing so well as here. On the properties ol' Mr. Eric Wliitcombe and Mr. Andrew Knox ; are. some really tine, "specimens. It is not .every place whero .the. larch is a success in New Zealand. 1 have known many farmers who havo planted them, thinking they wohld do all right, but.they have had a.liard battle. ,lt is-a pity,- as the;-larch'vis such splendid' fencing- timber,' besides being oxoeilent firewood. .

Mr. Whitcombe-'s homestead is surrounded by splendid-belts of trees of various kinds; the soil is evidently suitable. There are also some fine specimens of the . silver birch; as good as 'ariy'-I'have over' seen. ; j'. ,i l ee.d-.geuerally. was short iwhen I was there. The hills were'. very bare, and everyone was remarking on ike- backwardness of. the season. Cattle were in fair condition—better than in a goou ■many; .other plages—and and lambs - were, doing: all- right. '.: I did not hear of many losses. Going up the ■Ridge, -road ono/sees a- good deal of fern.;/lii' some places it seems to have taken, charge .altogether. All; the- farms are of a'fair size;'in fact;'it being pastoral country, small holdings , are not : much ;usa-from a'sheepowner's point of ■view:'

,'Some';.iiwo - or; three- miles up the -road lirnestorife begins "to make its appearance. The country ; rises .-rapidly. up to Mount Mareharit; an offshoot' :of thoPuketoi .Ranges, about 2001) feet' up. Here it is all splendid limestono country. The soil is a bit on the light side, and carries chiefly cocksfoot. All this-, district, has'been;;very heavy/bush, with', a- considerableliahJount' of rata, which usually indicate good land.. Mr. Howard has a'/hicej'fantf-iup'i'this- road, his homestead is- perched on a sheltered ridge abovo-.the.road, ;and commands : a splendid view of the 'Piiketois. -Nestling'at the foot of'Mbunt Marchant is ,Mr. ..il'Donald's.-: house, f-ivell' sheltered from most winds, : part'iciilarly from anything from the south.,; . ... •••:!'All :the farm's-:'''liere . ( aj^devoted., to sheep, with a sprinkling of cattle. It being'high country, the sheep bred here 'aro hardy, and they are well boned on account- of 'the ;limestoneo, in the district.'- ': Mr.. Clinlow, > \ another" 'of the Puketoi farmers; has-a holding of about 1000; acres.right,on'.-the..range.' Strange' to say,"' in this lii'gliVcptihtry I' foundhad, 'yet come "'acroas!'.'vtW'cocSSfoSjt. was',well on tho. move, and/making strong growth. A .little;. ,wariner weatherand. these. Puke-;it6i,-':farmers) will. ha.ve ..'more ' grass than ;st6ck- ? tp "feed' it ■ off.:'-Of course, this being .the'highest ridge, in the North ..Wairarapa, the winds, are' boisterous. 'They have: a -clean .sweep ,from •SieisTararuasyf fthe Wel- : *tKink ; iri'othirig of: ; 4nd. £ '