The Farm.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 4

The Farm.

4 CHATS WITH THE FARMERS A Visit to Mr Ciiaulks M'Giiecjor, Park's Farm, Shag A^allby. Mr M'Gregor was brought up on a farm leased by his father, near Kippen, Stirlingshire, Scotland, It consisted of 130 acres, the rent paid for which was £130 per annum. He was twelve years old when his father died, leaving nine children. He assisted his mother until hia brother was able to take his place, when he lefb for New Zoaland. This wa3 nineteen years ago. Upon arriy. ing in Dunedin ho engaged to wotk for Mr Alexander Renm'e upon land which now forms a portion of Mr Shand's farm. Having worked for Mr Rennie ab.>ut a year, he became manager of Mr John Jones' Cherry larm, Waikouaiti, where he remained about two years. He then leased a farm of 100 acres at Waikouaiti, at £1 per acre, for a home, and commenced carting on the road to the diggings and dealing in catble and horses, After a time he was enabled to purchase a farm of 84 acre 3, for which he paidfc£s 16s per, acre. This, farm and a hotel and five or six shops which he owns in Waikouaiti, are now let. Eleven years ago he went home to Scotland, where he remained for a year. On his return he purchased Park's farm, in Shag Valley, about two miles from Paimerston. It coubisted of 160 acres of tussock, but now comprises 260 acres of rotting land, well watered with a creek. The soil is a dark vegetable mould, varying in depth from four to seven inches, on a free mellow clay. Tne boundary fence is of thorn, and a subdivision has been carried oui with the same kind of fence, to the extent of seven paddocks. Me M'Gregor has this year 30 acres in wheat, 35 in oats, 12 in turnips and potatoes, 45 in rye-grass for seed, and the re. mainder in pasture fields of cultivated grasses. There are 12 horses and 12 Ayr shire and half-bred cows. Previ ois ti this year, merino aud cross-bred sheep were kept. There are none this year, because there are cattle on the land lately purchased, and the fences are not in good order. Sheep sire to be made part of the sfc^ck hereafter. Mr M'Gregor considers merinrs of a good clas3 the btst for small farmers. The average yield of wheat upon thi< firm is estimated at 28 to 30 bushels to the aci c, and of oats at 38 to 40 bushels. It gi-ows moat excellent samp'es of wheat and oats. The red straAV wheat is preferred, being hardier than velvet or Tuscan, and not so easily sprouted in wet weather. The kinds of oats grown are long Tartarian and short or milling. Barley was tried four years ago, but the seed was of bad quality. This year no eeed could be obtained. The average yield of rye grass seed produced is 25 to 30 bushels per acre The rye grass is mostly Poverty Bay, which is preferred by the farmers. It is sown for permanent pasture at the rate of 24!bs to the acre, witn 4;bs of Italian, lib cocksfoot, lib cow-graes, 21bs red and lib white clover. The cocksfoot and others do nob seed. Mr M'Gregor cuts it one year for hay. The cocksfoot he considers good for hilly laud. It stands the drouth bettar than any other, and if not rank cheep are fond of it. It is excellent for fattening and the grub does not take it. The first stock put on young pisture are yearlings and calves. When sowing down, fche land has two ploughing 3, a good harrowing, and a rolling. The seeds are sown by hand, and light y harrowed The course adopted a-i near as possible is to take two white crops off tussock, then to sow down and stand for three ye<«rs ; plough twice and take wheat or oats, and then plough twice aud t grub aDd sow oats and grass for permanent pasture. The manure made upon the farm is used upon the poorest land for green crops, supplemented by a liberal supply of stable raauuve hauled out from Paimerston. Mr M'Grregor tried guano one season, with turnips, but it had no perceptible effect, owing probably to the prevalence of dry weather. His neighbour, Mr David Fleming, who has had a good deal of cxperienco in the use of manures in Scotland, considers the climate too dry to get the full benefit of guano. If applied on the approach of wet weather, its effect is immediately noticed. In damp weather, in Scotland, it is often sown upon grass land. Mr M'Gregor has tried bone du9t with carrots, and with good effect. Twelve cows are milked upon this farm, fche milk being used for butter or cheese, as may be found most convenient. This department is in charge of Mrs M'Gregor, who rears a calf from each cow, by hand. Some yearling Ayrshire heifers which we saw were splendid animals — most beautiful in form, gentle, and well fed. The cows average six to seven pounds of butter each per week. Mr M'Kregnr believes in breeding from the best, and has lately bought a yearold prize Ayrshire bull at Oamaru. He has made a good use of his knowledge of stock, buying and se'ling, a=i occasion offers. In the beginning of this season he bough!; the well kaown pure Olydeadale entire horse Bothweli from Mr Oullen, of the Taieri, and has him travelling this season in the Macraes, Hyde, Hamilton, and Kyeburn districts. He is a dark chesnut standing 16£ hands high, by Heather Jock. Two years ago hs bought the entire horse Conqueror from Mr Miller, of Maungatua, and ■sold him in Timaru for £330. He has also aold some good prize mares at Oamaru. He runs young cattle and horses on the Mao>i Reserve, Moeraki,

There are places upon the fnrrn which it would pay to drain, if pipes could be obtained at a reasonable price. The water has been removed from some hollows by means of stone drains, Tree planting lias not yet been carried on to a great extent, but there are some plantations which in a few years will make fine clumps. Three years ago Mr M'Gregor got from Mr Young, of Paltneiston, 2000 Scotch and American pines. Among the implements used is a fine three-horse grubber, from Scotland, which is found to be a most valuable implement. It is now manufactured by the local blacksmith. The farm buildings include a stable with a loose- box and loft for hay, a large granary, byre, and implement shed. Last season Mr M'Gregor sold his wheat after thrashing, at 4s, and his oats at 3s 9d to 4s. The charge for grinding wheat at the local mill is 9d per bushel. There has been no great trouble with birds or blight. The greatest plague has been the cockchafer grub, at times, in the grass and wheat. There are a few patches this year of couch grass and some Cape weed. This couch (Triticum repens) is a nutritious grass, but in land under cultivation is looked upon as one of tho worst of weeds. It must not be confounded with the Sydney couch grass, known to botanists an Gynnoclo dacbylon. It is the principal fodder grass and the best pasture grass of India, and is known by the names of Dhob, Doorba, &c. In Britain it is rare, being found only on the sandy shores of Cornwall. It has creeping roots.