DAIRYMAN'S PARADISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 13

DAIRYMAN'S PARADISE.

THE CHATHAM ISLANDS,

SHEEP AND CATTLE RAISING. > _ AREA WITH GREAT FUTURE. [By TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Friday. The agricultural and dairying possibilities of the Chatham Islands were* fully investigated on behalf of the New Zealand Agricultural Department by Mr. G. W. Wild, agricultural instructor, Hamilton, who has just returned from a three weeks' visit to the Islands, which are 530 miles east from Lyttelton. Mr. Wild said the Chathams consisted of 250,000 acres and the inhabitants, totalling SHO, were engaged principally in sheep farming and fishing. There were 83.000 sheep, 2000 cattle and 761 horses on the main island. The sheep were big-framed Romneys and were always keenly sought by South Island buyers in the Addington market. Shorthorn-Here-ford cross was the principal breed of the cattle, which developed large carcases. Horses were the only means of transport in use. Ideal Pasture Land. The Chathams were ideally suited for pastures and English rye, cocksfoot and clovers grew exceptionally well there. A comparatively small area was worked and sown in the first place, the main areas becoming solf-sown as the bush was felled. The country generally was flat to undulating, and the soil was a black sandy loam, intermixed with shell lime. Mr. Wild described the islands as the dairyman's paradise, for the best of the country was exceptionally well suited for the conduct of dairying. The average rainfall was 35in., distributed over 190 days throughout the year. Light rain fell every other day, and nearly every night there was a light fall. The result was that the pastures were constantly refreshed and were in luxuriant growth throughout the spring, summer and autumn. Summer and winter cropping for the cows was almost unknown, for in the winter cows went to the bush, where there were abundant shelter and feed. Cheese Factory Established. A prominent settler, Mr, T. Henderson, established a cheese factory at Te One a year ago, and the milk of about 160 dairy cows supplied it. Of this; number, Mr. Henderson owns 105. The Chathams cows are mixed Hereford-Shorthorn cross and have proved to be good milkers, for Mr. Henderson's herd averaged 2201b. of butter-fat in a year, an average that compares favourably with that of the cows in the Auckland province.

In order to improve the production of the dairy herds, the New Zealand Government has presented the island with a pedigree milking Shorthorn bull, one of the Darbalara strain bred at Ruakura. It is expected that 250 cows will be supplying the factory next season.

Conditions at the Chathams in the winter are mild, only one or two frosts being experienced. Mr. Wild said if Waikato farming methods were introduced to the Chathams he ,saw no reason why from 6000 to 7000 dairy cows could not be carried there. Some of the betterclass land was carrying from three to four sheep to the acre, while on the larger stations the average is a sheep to two acres. Large Free Lime Deposits.

There were large areas of tree lime deposits available on tho island, and if this lime was distributed with a top-dresser, incalculable good would result. Topdressing had not so far been adopted, but it was hoped the settlers would adopt this form of fertilising the soil. A curious feature of the island, said Mr. Wild, was that the high level soil consists oi peat, running from 25 ft. to 50ft. deep. On the plateau were numerous hollows containing brackish water. Mr. Wild thought this peat land could be made productive by applying lime to its surface.

Concluding, Mr. Wild said he considered there was a great future before the Chathams. With the adoption of improved farming methods the pastures could be made second to none in the, southern hemisphere. Only about 50 acres had been put down in turnips, but the results secured convinced him of the suitability of the soil for roots. Very little bay was needed. Mr. Wild spoke enthusiastically of the kindness and hospitality he received from the people, who expressed keen appreciation of the New Zealand Government's efforts to assist them.