LAKGE ESTATES IN OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume XXII, Issue 2514, 22 February 1879, Page 5 (Supplement)

LAKGE ESTATES IN OTAGO.

(From the Otago Daily Times, lebruary 17.) Harvesting- upon the N,^. and A. Land Company's Edendale Estate, Southland, was commenced oil Thursday laßt with four of M'Cormick's self-bindiug harvesters, and three or four back-delivery reapers. There are 1900 acrea ot oats, which are expected to yield the usual average of 45 to 50 bushels to the acre. The entire estate consists of 118,000 ncres of arable land, all of which is freehold. Three thousand acres are in turnips, 500 acres are in rape, and 27,900 acres have been laid down in English grass.' There are'at present upon the estate 00,000 sheep, 5000 horned cattle, and 180 horsee. We are informed that 500 of the famous polled Angus cross of cattle are now bred annually, and. they thrive amazingly on $he fine Edendale pastures. One hundred and thirty hands are employed }n ordinary times besides about 60 contractors. Forty double-furrow ploughs were employed all the winter. There are §25, miles of fencing, chieQf. doqble ditch, three? Bod bank, popt an.4 three wjres. V(e hear, that owing to the low price of wh,eat, many of the large estate owners are giving up the cultivation of that grain. Mr James Smith, of Greenfield, does not consider it worth growing unless it will bring 4s 6d per bushel. The Glut ha tti?er having

been in a bad Btate this season, none jptflast crops could be shipped by-steamer ;. consequently from 40,000 to 50,000 bushels; of wheat were sent to Tokomairiro, by", team, at an expense of 6d per bushel.' Within the last 12 months 25,000 bushels, of oats were eaten on the place, 130 draught horses having been fed. Mr Smith has this1 season 2000 acres of turnips, 150 acres of; wheat, and 600 acres of oats, for use on the j estate. He is now eating down 10Q0 acres; of wheat with sheep. One hundred and thirty acres of rye-grass have just been cur,' which have yielded 50 bushels of seed to the acre. Altogether there are 5000 acres under crop and 7000 acres in English grass—about' one-half of the estate. He expects to break i up 3000 acres this winter. There are 42,000 sheep and 600 cattle. Messrs Begg Bros., of the Hillend Eotate, have 700 to 800 acres of wheat, 4000 to 5000 acres of oats, and a quantity of turnips. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company have upon the Clydevale Estate, 12,000 to 14,000 acres of wheat, 600 to 700 acres of oats, and 1500; acres of turnips. • ; Upon Mr Johu Douglas's Mount Boyal Estate there is not much ground "in* crop, but an enormous amount of money has been expended in laying land down'in" English grassland draining, clearing, and, surfaceso wing. There are 23,000 acres of freeh'dld, ■ divided into 30 paddocks, 2500 acres ov which have been cultivated. The stock consists of 25,000 sheep, over 1000 cattle and 50 horses.