DISTRICT NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 17 June 1920, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(Own Correspondent,,

THREE-MILE BUSH—District News

FARM. NOTES.

The shortest days are with us, and in general things are quiet. Preparatory work for the coming season is being taken in hand by some; others arc attending to permanent and- repair work, which the busy time of the year allows but little time fox.

"Your Own," while spending a few hours on Mr R. Howie's farm, was forcibly struck by the amount of work he has put into his farm since he has acquired it. Like the rest of the farms in this district, stone is well in evidence. Mr Howie has, by hard work and money, converted much of his 200----acre holding into lovely ploughed, grassed paddocks, and with the stove taken therefrom has erected some two hundred chains of wall; fencing, which is valued at £2 per chain, and as a fence for permanency aiid serviceableness it has few if any other things to equal it. By the aid of a windmill water is pumped to an elevation, and then by gravitation six paddocks are supplied with water, per medium of receiving troughs. Tho best of water is available in this district by boring and much of the water j is obtained by this means. No fewer than eight windmill pumps are in cvi- | dencc in this district, within a short { distance of one another. Mr Howie is ! , alive to the benefits of planting shelter belts and clumps of trees. Besides adding to the beauty of a place, they afford splendid shelter for stock. Another commendable point of this farmer is that noxious weeds are not allowed to flourish; in fact, they are a missing number. Coming to the buildings, a modern homestead and conveniences, built on a nicely elevated knoll, lends enchantment to the farm. A fine range of outbuildings is also in evidence. All of the buildings have been erected since acquiring the farm, and on the whole the improvements effected indicate successful progressiveness, while still further improvements are under way. Top-dressing paddocks with fertilisers is carried out as is done on other holdings, and the results are satisfying. PERSONAL. Messrs E. and H. Lilley aro effecting considering improvements on their holdings, stone-walling having received a considerable amount of attention. Mr H. Lilley is about to ship a fine mob of beef cattle to the Auckland market. Messrs Teasdale, Poho, and Waetford have practically most of the bush cleared from their holdings now, and have made open-looking country. Poor burns have been fairly general, but as much of the timber is needed for firewood purposes there is not so much room to grumble. Mr Teasdale believes in a poor burn to minimise the scorching of the land by fire. Mr G. Coxhead has applied about, ten tons of fertiliser as a top-dressing, and is satisfied that a systematic rotation of top-dressing paddocks pays handsomely. Mr Coxhead is also loud in his praise of the subterranean clover, which' is rather a new species of clover locally and will be watched with Interest. Mr Teasdale has leased his property of 51 acres to Mr K. Muldrock, with a right-of-purchase clause. Mr M. Jones was \a successful exhibitor at the recent Whangarei Winter Show and hopes to do better next year. On this occasion no trouble was taken to keep the best of the vegetables back for showing purposes.