WAIKAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2105, 28 June 1894, Page 23

WAIKAKA.

June 26.— Messrs Harvey and M-Kenzie are now, after a long and successful season of thresning carrying oats to the Waikaka siding with their traction engine. It is one of Aveling and Porter's, and is fitted with all the latest improvements. It takes about 13 tons in tow. They have done a considerable amount of draining with it this season, for which it seems well adapted. Auriferous Land.— lt is possible that the miners and ..others interested in that industry will ask the Government to secure some of the land lately sold on Greenvale estate, near Waikaka, which, is known to be auriferous. The present owner is willing to treat for an exchange in equivalent value of land not auriferous. Horticultural and Agricultural. — I was the other day shown some carrots (intermediate) grown by Mr J. Ballantyne which, for size, I fancy should take come beating. The average weight of the crop would be about 51b. One monster, though not quite perfect, having several subsidiary roots, weighed no less than 71b, and 01b each was quite common. They are of course garden carrots, not the coarse field sort. The same gentleman has in his garden several rows of mangel wurtzel, which |seem to have taken very kindly to the soil,havinggrowntoanimmensesize. Mr Ballantyne uses no artificial manures. Would it not be worth while for some of the farmers to try mangel growing? The soil and climate seem excellently adapted f6r their production, and they make splendid winter feed, for cows especially. Ploughing lias been somewhat retarded by the softness of the ground, which has been thoroughly soaked with the rains of autumn and the early part of winter. Some fields, liowover, where a judicious use of the drain plough has been made, are remarkably dry. It would seem that this implement will prove a valuable addition to the many aids to good farming already in use. Of course to render its work of any avail judgment and. system must be employed in the method of draining.