CHATS WITH FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1895, 16 March 1888, Page 8

CHATS WITH FARMERS.

A VIb'TT TO THE FARM OF MR GEORGE PATEK.SON, WOODLANDS, OTEPOPO.

It was near sunset when, after a walk of over a score of miles, we reached this finely situated farm residence ; and the condition of the outer man may be judged when the reader is told that through almost the whole of the journey the road had a Oin covering of finely pulverised dust, which, with the slightest puff of wind or the action of a passing vehicle, rose in dense clouds and settled -down on all and sundry around. It was in this very dusty condition that by a gentle knock at the door admission was sought, in response to which a cheery ringing voice sounded, " Gome in if you're good looking," whioh in ordinary circumstances would have been at once acted on ; but remembering the envelopement, we modestly requested an examinatbn, and in a minute the door was opeued 3,nd several smiling faces held conference, and.l

was welcomed by Mrs Paterson when my identity was made known. An hour or so later on the gude man himself, along with a nuaiber of his assistants, came home from the harvest field, where a long, hard day's work had been satisfactorily completed, and which had nearly finished the leading in of the wheat crop. A speedy recognition and welcome were soon over, and the farmer's hospitable board was surrounded by a number of hungry men in first-rate health with plenty of meat before them.

Mr Paterson has been a resident in the Otepopo district for a considerable number of years— about 18. He arrived in the province in 1862, and, like the proper stamp of a colonist, he at once took a situation with Mr James Allan, ( of Hopehill, Taieri, where he remained until his own savings, in conjunction with those of his brothers, enabled them to purchase by degrees 250 acres in this locality, and which he now occupies, and in addition has leased 700 acres, so that the whole extent of his holding is 950 acres. With the exception of a piece under bush, which has been conserved for farm purposes, the whole land has been brought under cultivation ; indeed it had been cultivated for a good many years by previous occupiers. It is divided into different sized paddocks, each of which is enclosed by live fences, and good district roads add to the facilities for working. The nearest station of the railway is within three miles of the dwellinghouse, which stands on a ridge on the edge of the bush, and from which a splendid view of the ocean and surrounding landscape is easily obtained. The leased portion of this farm, together with the farm adjoining, is the property of Messrs J. and D. Mains, formerly of Port Chalmers, but now resident in Auckland ; and in selecting the site for the house, or rather both houses, a great deal of forethought and taste were displayed, evidences of which are also seen in the buildings themselves. Messrs Mains intended making their permanent residence here, but the health of one of the brothers demanding a warmer climate, they reluctantly left.

Mr Paterson. turns his attention principally to sheepfarming, in which he has this year been very successful, having had a large percentage of lambs, those of which he has sent to market realising a very good price. The wool clip also has been a very satisfactory one, and a fair price was obtained for it. The class of sheep kept is half and three-quarter-bred, which is in general repute in the country as being all round the most profitable. Attention is not confined to sheep alone, for, as before noted, cereals are not neglected. This year about 300 acres were under white crops — one half in wheat and the other in oats. Both had been reaped at the time of my visit, and the wheat had been almost all gathered in to be threshed in a few weeks, when over an average number of bushels per acre is expected. With the oats, however, it is different, as unfortunately a very heavy hail storm passed through the paddock in which they were growing, somewhere about the end of January, almost completely stripping^ or breaking them down, so that instead of having a yield of 60 bushels per acre a large portion will not thresh out five bushels. These losses are what ifell on the farmers' enterprise, and are apt to lead to despondency ; but such has not been the effect on Mr Paterson, as he says -we must do the best we can and try again. Nor in the oats alone has he this year been a loser from natural causes, for his turnip crop has also failed to a large extent. This result he places to the debit of the birds in some degree, but to the drought

mainly, as although twice sown there was a very poor braird. To make up for the deficiency here there is a very abundant pasture, and the young grain among the stubble will be of immense advantage as it is showing well. Mr Paterson intends to devote some attention in the future to dairying, as he feels certain that by producing first-class butter and having the advantages of cool, quick, and cheap carriage, a good return can be had from^the Home country. With this object in view he is trying an experiment in cattle breeding, his idea being that the produce of half and three-fourth Ayrshire cows crossed by an Alderney will give the largest quantity and richest quality of milk. Another year or so will give him the opportunity of testing his experiment. As my friend was anxious to get forward with his harvesting, and the morrow morning proving threatening, a dense, damp fog coming up from the ocean, which completely obscured the surroundings, I took an early departure from his cheerful abode with mutual expressions of kind wishes.