NORTHERN WAIROA ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 9

NORTHERN WAIROA ITEMS.

■■ .' . - [jbom ova . owx cohrespox^ent.] Refeering to the mention of Paspaium dilatat'uni ' iii last week's issue, Mr.i ]\I..N. Downey, of Maunganui Bluff, states that . in 1910 he handled over three tons of the need, and last year manipulated a ton and - ■';'■ a-half. With a long pastoral experience in the North of Ireland, he declares that he . has never seen any ; other grass which gives results approaching that of paspalum, both for dairy herds, beef cattle, and sheep', and ;' his contention is borne out by all the expert buyers of live ' stock who , attend I Northern sales. . Mr. Downey states that oh rraupOi swamp land ho lias sown the seed, and,' in a, comparatively short time, It .has': had the satisfaction of ; seeing tha. native growth obliterated, and its place filled with waving stems of paspaium,. six feet i high. -Ho proffers the advice that it * should be sown? on any area whereon tall . fescue has obtained a hold, for .he haw every reason to believe that in time the* ' 'paspaium will choke the fescue out of existence. ■ -' .Farming' on the .fine-flat stretch between' > Dargaville and Kopuru is being pursued • on ; most commendable'; \ lines. Fields of waving : maize "denote an expansion of the dairy industry, for the crops are to be ,< utilised for, green fodder. „ Maize-growing • , has sprung, rapidly into favour, and progressive "dairymen, have satisfied them- ■ ' selves , that;■ it is the most valuable crop-, ' they can .tend..'"Some ' fields, however, bear ■ evidence that sufficient care has hot; been '<■ exercised in the choice of seed,; but- , those farmers who? secured j the best; and- ' also fertilised their areas, are jubilant at' the splendid growth. The hay crop ha« •been' most pleasing, and a splendid lot! . of oaten sheaves "will this year be : con- •, -■;. verted into chaff. ?On the adjacent hill , , lands preparations - are being made , for ! grassing, and ere long • the high territory, will present ;: a good ; swarded : appearance. The Aovoa flat embraces some 10,000 acres of level fertile country, essentially fitted for dairying, and its improved farms havei been assessed at a value higher than thoso '• elsewhere in the' county. ~ The -various farmers are < concentrating.,, their energies; ; in dairying, and ?,the area will ! in" time Denoted for its milk output. It contains' all, i dear to the heart of the dairyman, • being , i well loaded and in close proximity to the borough of Dargaville and * other chief centres. It is a pity to : see. such a large extent still', clothed in native growth, as the land, ; under expert treatment," would carry a ; beast to the' acre. , < ;, The ■:•' kumara ••:.< crop . is ' somewhat • back- . ward, but promises, as far- as area is concorned," to bo heavy. Every year sees an. , - , increased cultivation of the .favourite < tuber, and many settlers now grow large. ; . • ; quantities for their pigs. Considering the t': cheap cost at which kumaras can be grown : .>: and their lvalue for ; fattening .'swine,' it. is ; . j; probable that kumara-fed pork y.nll be- ; come a snecially-known article. There is littlo movementin tit?;, "ve* ■ . stock industry, most sales ; being confined, -.... to 'local requirements, although city b«y«* are keen to pick up good store and beef lines. As long„ as P fU *" ra JS?- «*>ntmu«» iVntiful there-".lttfe--likelihood, of ih» Cerclas Eeing marketed freely, and 2 the local consumption of; beef apprttw menS are met with continuous small pur. . II w ! •',.,, issfeffeiliii