CHATS WITH THE FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 6

CHATS WITH THE FARMERS.

A Chat with Mr James Sheed, Aedwell Faem, South Glenkenioh, Mr Sheed came over to New Zealand in the year 1868, in the Lincolnshire. He landed in Canterbury and immediately found work at the rate of £1 per week. At tbe end of three months he left for Otago, and got employment with Mr G, Maitland, at the Clutha, where he remained for three years. His next occupation was on the farm of Mr Sheath, of Lawrence, shortly afcer which he oame to Glenkenich, having been successful in obtaining a 200 acre deferred payment section in that district. The farm is now < all Burrounded and subdivided by substantial fences into four paddocks. There are upwards of 200 chains of fenoing; being mostly of stakes and three wires upon a three-sod bank. Mr Sheed paid for all his fencing at the rate of 14s per chain, the cost of erection being 8s 6d per chain. Gorse has been sown all round the farm, and it is found to answer very well. Mr Sheed has brought about 150 acres under caltivation up to the present time. The first year he had 18 acres of crop on the first farrow, the return being very satisfactory, viz: 20 bushels to the acre. The second year he tried wheat, of which he sowed about 60 acres. He also sowed 30 acres of oats. The return from the wheat was 25 bushel*, and from the oats 50 bushels per acre. This year he reaped 70 acres of wheat and 30 of oats with results something ei.nilar to those of the previous year. Mr Sheed has tried both red- straw and velvet wheat. This year he had 20 acres of the latter, and finds it to do better than the red-straw ; the yield being 10 bushels more per aore. The pats grown are Sutherland and short Tartarian ; they are always found to take the market, and stand the wind better than many other sorts. The produce is generally disposed of at Inveroargill. In anticipation of a turn in the prioes Mr Sheed has yet about 1300 bushels of grain to dispose of, which he intends keeping till spring. For 50 bags of wheat which he sold a short time ago he reoeived 3s 9d per bushel. Last year 10 acres of turnips were sown on the first furrow, but they were only an average orop. This year it is intended to sow 50 acres on first and second furrow land. The turnip best suited to the soil— which is a dark friable mould upon a stiff clay bottom — is the Aberdeen yellow. It is also intended to lay down 80 acres this year in English grasses. Though nothing definite has yet been fixed upon, the following will probably be the mixture :—Perennial rye graßs, li bushel ; Italian rye-grass, i bushel;; red and white clovers, 101b ; timothy, 21b or 31b. The buildings consist of a neat four-roomed dwelling house ; four-stalled stable, with loft ; barn, and other sheds. The house is pleasantly situated, and surrounded by a garden. Mr Sheed apparently believes in the old Scotch farmer's advice to his son — "Be aye stiokin' in a tree, Jock : it's growin' while ye're sleepin'." He has already planted Beveral pines and a number of fruit trees, and at the time of our visit he had ordered 100 more firs and pines from Invercargill. Blue gum has been tried, but they are invariably destroyed by the winter . frosts when young ; though at the time of our visit we noticed several young plants in a healthy state. There are five horses on the farm, some of which are really fine animals. The cattle are of the shorthorn breed, there being in all 11 head, including a shorthorn bull. Five of the cows are in milk at present. The implements comprise a reaping machine, dray, ploughs, harrows, and other implements requisite for farm work. Mr Sheed occasionally enters the lists at the annual ploughing matches with his double furrow plough. This year he obtained second honours in that class at Tapanui, besides taking prizes for th© best team, harness, grooming, &o. He was not so successful at the Knapdale match, but he was once more to the front with his horses. The produce is always sent to Invercargill, as the farm is within easy distance of the main line at Otakarama — a day being ample time to go with a load and return. Mr Sheed has read the various " chats " which have appeared in the Witness from time to time with pleasure, and regrets that he is not able to give us as much information as he would have done had his experience of the district been of a longer standing.