STORY OF PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20669, 15 September 1930, Page 11

STORY OF PROGRESS.

CENTRAL OTAGO DAIRYING. ARID DISTRICT DEVELOPED. REMARKABLE CHANGE SHOWN. [BY TKI.EGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDTN, Saturday. It is doubtful if in the history of Of ago there is a more remarkable story of progress and development than that which can be told about the rise of the dairying industry in the semi-arid regions of Central Otago. Some years ago the possibilities of dairy farming in Central Otago were first stressed bv men of foresight and vision, but for the most part little notic was taken of what were generally considered to be unreasonably sanguine views. That dairy farming could ever be expected to yield a satisfactory income' off a small holding was frequently and vigorously ridiculed, but for all that an industry has been established which may be expected to grow with the years, until it becomes one of the most important provincial assets.

Twelve years ago the Galloway Flat, an area of 2000 acres of low-lying country, bounded by the Manuherikia River on the one side and the Raggedy Range on the other, formed part of the old Galloway station. It pastured a few sheep only. Its surface was strewn with boulders, disfigured by scab weed and incapable of.growing anything except the scantiest of native grasses. The railway line ran through one of the most cheerless and desolate-looking areas in the interior of Otago. Front Scab Weed to Lucerne. To-day the picturo is one of prosperity and progress. The transition from scab weed to lucerne has been effected, and thousands of pounds a year come into tho district in payment for the cream which is daily railed to Punedin. The average yield of butter-fat per cow at the present time is about 2501b.

It should be remembered that Centra] Otago is at a disadvantage compared with the coastal regions, in that it has a very much shorter season. The dairying year commences late and concludes comparatively early. The mean season is fron? seven to eight months. The rigours of early spring make it impossible to start milking much earlier than the last week in August or the first week in September. Extremes of Heat and Cold.

The dairy farmer in Central Otago is penalised by extreme heat and extreme cold and has to meet an irrigation water bill, computed' at a rate of from 12s to ]3s an acrde. The three main breeds of dairy cattle, Ayrshire, Friesian and Jersey, are in use in this district, and all appear to do equally well under the unusual conditions. Sheep are found unprofitable on such small holdings as are the rule at the present time, and the initial ventures in fruitgrowing that were made on the flat were far from promising. Before dairying was established the capital value of the Galloway Flat was about £2 10s an acre. To-day a moderate esfiroate would be £3O an acre, and that has been accomplished in considerably less than 10 years.