CREAM-PRODUCING LAND.

Waipa Post, Volume XIX, Issue 1075, 9 April 1921, Page 7

CREAM-PRODUCING LAND.

HAIRINI, THE IDEAL DAIRYING

COUNTRY.

ITS GOOD NAME STILL UPHELD

(By Our Travelling Reporter). Few places throughout the Waikato, and even beyond the Auckland Province, enjoy such a good name as ideal dairying country as Hairini. For years it has been well formed, while its natural location and the superb undulating land protected by a range of hills, its rich flats, now getting so well drained, each and all these advantages, aid it as an ideal dairying country. Many other districts have either too many hills or too much undrained country. At Hairini the hills are not too steep and ploughing is comparatively easy, while its valleys provide a plantiful supply of good green grass during > the summer and winter months so favourable to growing stock. Moreover, its farmers are a type of men who, generally speaking are invariably "on" their farms, and take an intelligent interest in the business side of the life, which, like other avocations, calls for the application of thought. It is not surprising to make a success therefore that one finds around Hairini those who are proud to acknowledge their neighbour as "a good sort" or their wives as "some of the best when you need help." This good feeling is noticeable throughout the district and is commendable.

* One would expect just now that when other districts are drying up that Hairini would have a similar experience, but judging' from inquiries on the spot few complaints are reported. Not far from the Haiiini cheese factory—a factory by the way which the district has reason to be proud of—can be seen a splendid paddock of green turnips, while all around are paddocks where the grass seems a "growing-green," and not as in many places a fading yellow.

In connection with tests, figures speak for themselves. When a factory such as Hairini can report that only 3 out of 33 suppliers, show a test-be-low 4 and that the highest is 4.8, that alone adds to the reputation of this much-favoured district. Moreover, its cleanly-kept dairy sheds are probably the best in Waikato, indicating that the farmer themselves have a high regard for the "spick and span" type of cow sheds.

Of the breed of cow kept in the district, the Jersey se'ems to predominate, while a few good "black and white" (Fresian) and some typical dual-purpose Shorthorns complete the list.

Suppliers, too; have reason to be proud of their factory manager (Mr T. Braithwaite) who takes a pride in his work, and also of the factory's reputation that it produces no second grade cheese. Be also shares the ours of obtaining the highest average grade among the New Zealand Dairy Association factories, nameljl, 91.25. Just now casein is being manufactured by a special process, and thus all the by-products of milk are utilised. In view of the impending change which is likely to occur in the world's demands —whether for butter, cheese, casein, or dried milk, the management of this well-equipped factory are now considering their fu + ure policy for next season. Whatever the decisiion, the settlers of Hairini will always aim at keeping the best cows, and of seeing that their dairy machinery and utensils are scrupulously clean. * In that way their products will always find the best m rket.

"Whenever you think of buying a farm always see that there is some swamp on it," said a practical farmer to a would-be purchaser. The value of drained swamp land cannot be overestimated. One faimer in the Hairini district told the writer that even now in the dry season he was getting on an average one pound'of butterfat per*cow each day. This was undoubtedly due to the swamp land on which the cows had a good run. Much of the larger swamp areas have not only been burnt off but sown with grass, "lotus major' 'taking to the land w 11 and producing a good crop. It speaks well for the activities of the Hairini farmers that so much of this land has been so treated. Included among the latter are several returned boys who have a good name throughout the district as "champion sloggers." Of these Hairini is justly proud. After all it is the men who, day in and day out "keep at it" whether fencing, ploughing, or scrub-cutting, and invariably succeed. In the district are many who believe in moving with the times, and, taking advantage of the operations of the Mangahoe Drainage Board, are having their creeks Avidened and cleaned. Altogether over ten miles of draining will be put in hand, and already farmers and draining contractors are busily engaged on the Mangahoe stream and its creeks, so that when the winter is here these waterways will prove of immense value to the farming lands throughout the area under leview.

About twelve months ago the curse of this enviable district wa s the rabbit pest. With commendable foresight the farmers took advantage of the situation and formed a rabbit board. As a result they have practically extinguished "the little fellow with the white tail." By its persistent and continued operations, together with the co-operation of the farmers, the Board has now got bunny well under, and its success in that district is again an illustration that the farmers as a body believe in action, and not mere talk. Camparing Hairini with other districts, its" comparative freedom from blackberry and gorse, the well-equip-ped dairy factory, its splendid undulating lands, on which so many of the best-payir>g cows graze, and its social and scholastic advantage and good roads to Te Awamutu, it can justly claim its title as being the best cream-producing land in the Waikato.