JOTTINGS FROM THE Country.
'(By Our Travelling Repoßt&'S.)
MERINO DOWNS.
Splendid Agricultural Land - Magnificen drops of oats-A Hundred Bushels to the <Acre-A Ckange from White Tussock to 'Grain Afttl Grass-Be3t (Kinds of Oats to (Gro\f-Coal and Gold-The Triumph Oat'Caitivation and the Rabbit Pest-The <C'nief Oat-growing District of the Colony.
Leaving the valley of the Waikoikoi behind v and proceeding towards Gore, a very extensive area of splendid oat-growing country is entered upon. At first the land rises, and culminates in a secies of rather high ridges, intersected by rough gullies carrying a good deal of broken ground. Nevertheless these same ridges contain good soil, as testified to by the heavy crops of oats growing even on the highest of them, and the gullies afford both rough feed and shelter for stock. In many cases the somewhat broken and elevated land on the ridges is preferable to the level lands in the immediate neighbourhood, as where drainage is difficult of attainment the soil is sour, and will not grow anything but tussock grass, while the warmer and better drained ridge land lends itself readily to the cultivation of ordinary crops, and grows excellent grass for stock-feeding as well. The whole of the area mentioned, between Waikoikoi and Wore, is pretty well included in the Merino Downs estate, formerly held by the M'lp.tyres, and recently subdivided into farms o£ handy size. Tho extent of the estate was 40,000 acres, lying partly within the Glenkenich, Waikaka, and Chatton districts. Formerly this j truly splendid estate formed one of the best sheep rune in Otago, the wool from the Merino Powns always topping the market for quality, but owing to a variety of causes the run ceased to be remunerative, and had to be sold in small areas. Such an extensive block of land became too unwieldy to manage when the reduced price of wool necessitated more economical methods of production, and, besides, the ravages of rabbits reduced the carrying capacity of the run to aserious extent. The occupation of the country around by farmers necessitated the erection of sheep-proof fencing along all the boundaries, and that, of course, represented considerable outlay. When the late Mr M'lntyre left this spleudid territory to his sons he did not leave them altogether an unencumbered estate, but their misfortune has been the country's gain, as almost the whole area has passed into private Lands, and soon, instead of the weary monotony of white tussock, relieved only by bleating sheep, green fields of luxuriant com and grass, along with, numerous homesteads, will deck the landtsCipe. The Old Homestead was purchased by Mr George Milnes, formerly of Chatton district, at a figure a little under £3 per acre, inclusive of all improvements. These consist of a number of good buildings, with a commodious dwelling-house, which has recently been put in good repair at a small outlay, and substantial fences. I merely mention this to give an indication of the prices ruliug for Merino Downs land, none of which, so far as I know, went at a higher figure than that quoted. Mr Milnes owns something like 800 acres of really choice land, all good workable ridges, the nearest railwa5 r station being Pomahaka, about five miles distant. Near the woolshed the land has been so long enriched by the sheep that the heaviest crops may be taken off even the first furrow. I was shown one such crop of oats, which if harvested in good condition will yield close up to 100 bushels per acre — rather a large quotation some may say, but these figures are not uncommon in the whole area between the Blue Mountains and the Hokonuis. The variety of oats is the sparrowbill, which for big yields cannot bo beaten hereabouts. Me Milnes has a small field of wheat which gives promise of a fair yield, although it is manifest that tho soil does not Buit whVat, as the oats alongsido put it quite iv the shade by the vigour of their growth. Lime is required to make the growing of wheat a success. A large area has been broken up and sown in turnips broadcast, and thene give promise of a fairly good crop, although the fly and tho rabbits have thinned them out pretty well in places. The orchard in connection with the homestead is well stocked with small fruit, much of which will go to waste, as tho Dunedin market is too far off, and most of the neighbours have abundance of iheir own. The larger fruits have been comparatively a failure by reason of the cold and backward spring. Coal is abundant in tho bed of the Waikoikoi, which passes through part of the laud, and can be easily won by diverting the stream, which takes great bends in places. Adjoining Mr Milnes' property is that of Mr Gladstone Robinson, some 2000 acres in extent, but as that gentleman was absent in Dunedin I did not visit the estate, a description of which must be held iv reserve for some future occasion. Gradually rising to the higher ridges magnificent crops of oats are almost everywhere met with. In very few cases indeed will the yield be less than 50 bushels to the acre, and iv most from 50 to 00 bushels should be threshed out. All early-sown oats are looking remarkably well, of full growth, and carrying heavy heads which will in good time be filled with ripe plump grain. A Good Harvest, Abundance of rain has fallen recently, and what is wanted now is warm weather to fill and ripen the grain. Last season at about this time tho weather was too hot, the crops ripened too fast, ami the yield at threshing time was in most cases disappointing, but given sunshine now for a few weeks and the harvest will be one of the heaviest in point of yield of grain ever reaped. The straw may be short in places, but better growu heads have seldom been seen. Only very late-sowu fields look poor, and most of these even will recover considerably now since abundant raiu has fallen. On an education reserve, recently leased by Mr R. Simmers, I saw a splendid show of broadcast turnips, which in a short time will cover every vacant space. The addition of a little bonedust has wonderfully stimulated their growth, and will besides add to the fertility of the land, which will be laid down in permanent pasture. Messrs Anderson Brothers, adjoining, have splendid crops of oats, full shot and strong in growth, which should yield a large return at threshing time. Still ascending, very heavy crops are seen on Mr Sheed's farm, and only when Mr Boag's place, right on top of the hill, is reached is a rather poor crop seen, and that is a piece sown too lafce on a cold back slope. Everywhere else the latter gentleman's crops are good. Even on what may be termed the heights the soil is good, and eminently fitted for the cultivation of oats and turnips. Thp soil is pretty much the same over the whole district, both flat land and ridges consisting of drift laid down in the great carboniferous period. TJie Coal Weasures touch the surface at innumerable points, and gou<l liguito is plentiful within easy distance of
most farms. So fat as appearances go the opinion ei&y be expressed that nearly every farmer might have his own coal-pit by prospecving. At many points fine white sand, aa fine as the finest table salt and as white, points to the presence of coal not far below. In the gullies a coarse gravel lies not far from the surface, composed almost exclusively of the detritus of quartz rock ground small and rounded by some extensive system of water action in the ages long past, and most of this quartz gravel is gold-bearing. The gold is very fine, but in places would j^ay well enough could water be obtained. All the gullies contain springs, affording sufficient water for stock, but none carry enough for sluicing purposes, neither is there any stream that could be carried to such a height by means of a water-race. Descending again, a nice valley trending towards the Waikaka is entered upon, with farms on either side of it. Mr S. White has three acres of the Triumph oat growing. Four bushels of seed were sown, and at first fears were entertained of a poor crop, but so well has the grain stooled out that the heaviest possible crop now stands on the field. Should this oat realise expectations, not less than 80 bushels to the acre will be the yield. Close beside it is a field, of sparrowbill oats that ought to yield close up to 90 bushels to the acre. The latter will io all probability beat the Triumph variety, but only on threshing can that be decided. Passing on, heavy crops of oats are seen on the farms of Mr Lawson, Mr France, and Mr Stewart. Mr France has a very fair crop of wheat, which may yield about 30 to 35 bushels to the acre, wheat seldom topping that in this district. On all the farms passed the turnip crop will be pretty good, though late in making a start. The last places mentioned are quite a new settlement at the Waikaka end of the Merino Downs estate, and when it is remembered that three years ago the land was clothed in white tussock and snowgrass, it must be acknowledged that a great improvement has been effected. Rapidly the tussock is disappearing and improved land taking its place, and with the cultivation that is everywhere extending the rabbit nuisance is abating. Though universal cultivation may not exterminate the interesting little rodent, still most undoubtedly it will minimise his ravages. Descending to near the Waikaka stream the farm of Mr E. Perkins is entered upon. This is one of the first batch of deferred-payment farms placed in the market, and Mr Perkins was fortunate enough to secure his choice, although having to take his chance at the ballot box. The oats here are also first-class. A large field of short Tartarian will probably yield above 60 bushels to the acre all over, and in places it cannot give less than 80. A field of the Sutherland oat will yield fully as well. Mr Perkins has a small field of Hungarian wheat — a bearded variety — which has not done very well. Near the river the land grows grass well, and feeds a good many sheep. It would be a very interesting calculation to estimate the probable yield of grain over the whole area included in the Merino Downs estate, which must be. something considerable, to say nothing of that produced in the larger area of which that estate forms but a small part. I think it is not far wide of the mark to state that the greater part of tho oats grown in New Zealand come from the big district bounded by the Blue Mountains and the Hokonuis on two sideß, and the main lino of railway and the distant hills on the other two.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 14
Word Count
1,859JOTTINGS FROM THE Country. Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 14
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