FERTILITY OF THE NORTHERN VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9262, 16 January 1889, Page 5

FERTILITY OF THE NORTHERN VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

The other day wo published a report of the show of farm produce recently held at Hokianga. A very large proportion of the exhibits wore the produce of the village settlors in the neighbourhood of Rawene. Mr. R. P. Flood has forwarded to us some samples of this year's crops of the village settlers of Motukaraka. Among the samples were a sheaf of wheat, one of oats, one of cocksfoot, one of ryegrass, &c. All the samples showed thoroughly well what kind of soil is to be found in the North. The cocksfoot grass was nearly six feet in height, and the wheat must have stood fully six feet from the surface of the ground before it was cut. The straw is strong and well developed, and tho heads of grain large and well filled. Tho oats had splendid heads, and the straw was exceedingly strong. Indeed all the samples were of that character which showed plainly that the muchdespised North is not to be crushed by the slander of its enemies, but that it will yet give a stamp and character to the farm life of New Zealand. It is evident that those who are possessed of the opinion that in the North a Chinaman would starve, because he could not grow enough to feed him, should pay a visit to some of the village settlements, and see what a little industry can produce, even when farming skill has yet to be acquired. With such evidences of rich soil and a genial climate the village settlers may well Be contented, and if they do not carve out for themselves comfortable homes in the far North, the fault will be their own, not that of the district in which they have been located. Some of the samples wo received were grown by Mrs. Cashman, and are on view at our publish- : ing offices, Queen-street. j