INTENSIVE FARMING.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 17 February 1915, Page 5

INTENSIVE FARMING.

FRUIT IN THE OPEN AND UNDER

GLASS.

EARLY VEGETABLES.

( (By Cincinnatus)

Intensive farming is always attractive. The results are of a character compelling the attention of the observer, and impressing him in a way that ordinary farming fails to do, unless he is prejudiced in favor of the large areas—which is not an uncommon thing in new countries, and we still have to call ours that.

Down the Mahurangi, on a creek just below famous Red Bluffj there labors a friend who takes no small part in local affairs of general benefit. The allusion is to Mr T. W. Attwood.

His area is but fifteen acres, yet he gets more off it than many a man with a hundred. He can and does concentrate, and the limit of his achievements is not yet in sight. He may reach out for additional land, but what he has will be required to produce much more ere it reaches the standard set—probably sub-consciously. \ Mr Attwood is a man who does. And it appears to agree with him. If anyone thinking of going on tie land for the first time were to inquire about Mr Attwood, and to observe him, he would not long hesitate about taking the plunge. A vein of Mark Tapleyism is a useful thing; and worth imitating. One possessed of it is already fairly started on the road, of success.

Mr Attwood has been working his 15 acre block for 7 years. What has he on it ?

1 He has six acres of apples and two of soft fruits. Most of the trees are now bearing well. He has very much more than this on his farm, but let us first talk about the trees. There are good market sorts among the apples; some.of the most popular. Conspicuous are Scarlet Pearmain, Golden Pippin, Gladney's Eed, American Horn, Delicious (the apple that deserves its name), and Commerce (a showy deceiver as to dessert, but a cooker that cannot be excelled, and in the bright front rank as a keeper). The apples were planted well, and treated right all through, so they represent now a competence for life. The peaches, nectarines, and plums are all that,eould be desired, but there is no enthusiasm over soft fruits, nor is there likely to be until local enterprise proves sufficient to establish and maintain a growers' co-operative cannery.

A vinery about 60ft long is a picture just now. The eye could see nothing more pleasing than the full crop of grapes already purpled and ready for the scissors; or a-purpling, and giving rich promise for the weeks to come. . ' ( The vines are*good to look upon not only because they are heavily laden, but because they are likewise clean, and bear evidence of being guided by a master hand, one who loves his business.

These are the prime sources of revenue, but tomatoes are a very valuable side-line. Mr Attwood has considerable success with them, and produces heavy supplies from a small area. His array of vegetables generally is notable, and must be encouraging, to any beginner. There are flowers, too. The remains of a mass of Argentine Pea (lathyrus pubescens) suggests the glorious show that existed not so long ago, and that will come again. A fine bed of dahlias presents all the colors of dreamland. In front of the cottage are rambler roses, bulbs of most kinds, and many other flowers responsible for much loveliness in their season.

In a paddock runs the animal that provides milk and butter for the home, and in styes that are surprisingly un« smellful are representatives of the porcine tribe which assist Mrs Attwcod (who is a faithful backer of all her husband's efforts, and participator in his horticultural triumphs) to figure prominently on the prize-list of local shows with nicely smoked hams and bacon. Near by is the smokehouse, where fish as well as meat has been treated. It is a good thing to have on a farm, particularly on a seaside farm.

There are neat paths and a shady bush walk, with a fine variety of native trees and shrubs. Needless to say ' they will never be destroyed. ' A great asset on the fruit farm is an inexhaustible water supply. Mr Attwood has it. How much it i ß 'worth even he does not know. But he is using it in a practical way. It is a Dountiful spring,- and having scooped out a big pool lor it on the edge of a declivity he has installed a ram ; so there is running water in the house and in the grapery. Thus equipped, he saves a tremendous amount of time and labor and can smile at the dry-time that furrows the brows of others with anxiety. A w m ding shell-strewn path leads to the wharf and shed belonging to the property, and as it is descended the writer is convinced that there are many m other parts-who would envy Mr Attwood his property. Starting from scratch, with no capital worth speaking of, on a block that everyone thought too small (but which is quite large enough) and roughly overgrown, he has demonstrated in seven years something that must impress all that see the results. Half of his time he has been working away from his own block.

It does not follow that everyone else could do as much—just as it does not follow in regard to Tutt's achievement. A man has to have first of all a big heart, then untiring energy, coupled with intelligence and a full siipply of the right sort bf ambition. There is room in New Zealand for thousands of these, and no better chance anywhere than in this districtMay each worthy one who seeks to follow the examples noted be equally successful.