MATAMATA PAST AND PRESENT.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8051, 7 November 1906, Page 2

MATAMATA PAST AND PRESENT.

♦ TOP-DBKSSING. THE DiRY INDUSI'KY. 11. There is one phase of the manuring ques(ion which farmers throughout Waikato should devcte mu:h more study to than it at present receives, that is, theeflioicy of top-dressing, which we believe, can be practised here with success and economy We say this advisedly, for intimate know ledge of the country justifies (be assertion that by judiciously carrying out this treatment, the total of grass can be prolonged indefinitely. The application, every second year of, say, from 1 j to 2 owt of bones and super, mix'd, at a c -st of about four to five shillings per annum per acre, would work wonders and in the long run reduce by a considerable amount the cost of farming, that is, of course, in proportion to tho returns obtaired. There are at present to be SHen on Mitatnata, several stri'ii'g examples of what cm be done, for several of the freshest and healthiest looking pastures wore obtained by this means, among thein being that belonging to Mr Stoup, on what was originally known as the Springs paddock; and Mr Schwartz's firm on the Waharoa flat. The latter gentleman is one cf the nattiest farmers on the estate and conducts everything on up-tc-late lines; and Messrs Howler Brc .' 700 acres on Peria, who have been steadily and greatly improving their l.nd, which is now looking in urat-daas condition. Here in;iy ba mentioned that at what was the Matarnata milking sheds is a small area of Italian ryegrass, at ltist 15 ioches high and of good colour. Among other settlers who are doing well may be mentioned Messrs E. C. Banks, J. W. Simpson (late assistant manager of Matamata), Ki bride, Stritff, H. M ;gford and J. < ranswick, on the Tuau road, the latter h aviDg a good farm of which he is making the best u=eRobertson, G.Johnstons, Thompson, Moons H'idher, Nelson Banks, Joughlin and P. s! Phiip,tt on Peria; three Anlerson boys, sons of MrJas. Andeison, the well known Pukerimu farmer, Sefcon Banks, Roberts, i». Vercoe and Wyatt, on the Hinuera flat; W.andß. Garland, Charles, Vugler, tfelso, W. J. Moore and Mrs Payze, on the rurmga-D-Moani side, whioh at the time of our visit was looking in flue fettle. The homestead, which is known on acoount ot the stone structure built in the seventies by the late J. C. Firth, as "The Tower," is occupied by Mr John Mo< 'aw, " the boss" as he is still called >ui)ug the old employees, one of whom iemarked that ''if everyone farmed as well they would do well." Jsor is it to be wondered at, for ducing the twenty years he was officially coanaoced with the estate, first as inspecting supervisor and then as superintendent, its eirniug power has multiplied several times. The new arrivals too, fully recognise his ability, one at lewt acknowiodging that his operations were based on Mr McCaw'a lead, and another stated that nothing augured more for the future than that Messrs Mo Jaw and Simpson had faith enough in the land to oast in their lot with the settlers. Aj mentioned before, tue dairy industry is and must be the aiunstay of MatamaU, and at piesent there are four of Mesas Ambucy and English's creameries on the settlement, under the general supervision of Mr James Stein, manager of No. 1 which is situttei in the township. Here the quantity of milk received is daily increasing. On October 27th there were received 1900 gallons, or roughly, 19,0001b i, an increase over last year of 300 gals. I'he tests, however, are not quite so good owing to a variety of causes, the average being a bout 3.7. Some 700 cows, the property of 27 suppliers (three less than last year), aie now being milked for this oreameiy, and at the flush of the season it is expectet tint quitj 2.30J gallons will be lotohed, Three Alphi-Livai Separators, mst.iled during last winter, are in use at No. 1 Creamery, and ail are provided wnh a Triumph autjuiitic weighing machine for skim milk, and complaints are much less numerous now than uuder the old system. No. 2 Creamery is at the Cambridge crjssing.tjwards Hinuera, under the control of Air L. Hanoock. tupplie » send in at present some 75J gallons, compared with 500 gallons last season. The number of oows in commission is 300. In common with No. 1 oreamety, the te6U here are slightly lower than they were last year, a-eraging 3 o'. The anticipate.! maximum quautity is 1000 gallons, a d - crease of 300 on the pievious season, owmg to three of the largest suppliers having given up dairying. Mo. 3 is at Turang.- • Moana, with eleven suppliers who will in the height of the season send in the yieio of 368 cows. At the time of our visit 55u gallons were delivered, more than twite the quantity of last year, thoagh the tests are much the same, ranging irom 3 5 to 41. Mr Wm. Steen is in charge. The cows are coming in slower and more in a bunch than is usual, and as more are being milked a much larger supply than formerly sh. uld be dealt with. Right at the other side of the Estate, at Burnt Spur, as it wat called in the good old days, is No. 1, when Mr T. A. Steen is to be found. Hare ■lOOgals., or double previous supplies, are handled, the yield of 140 cows, though when all are in some 200 sb uld be numbered. Teats are practically the same. Tin three outside receiving stations were built last year, the last mentioned not startup operations until the season was well ad vanced. At No. 1, whioh commenced this season on August 7th, the pjojiietors have erected a comfortable managers oottage. Altogether s.me 120 gallons of cream were sent to the Erankton faotory every day. Mr Jas. Steen expressed the opinion that suppliers on the whole appeared well satistie.a and were d ,ing better than before and the future of the industry and of the settlement was ho r e ully looked forward to Mauy of the dairymen had been enab'e 1 to get their stock on to young grass, whiol in some cases doubled their output from tin same number of cows. The planting of shelter is one of tin many things that many farmers an apt to ovorlook in settling dow D and getting their land into paytm condition, and in Matamata there it plenty of room for this essential. 0: oouree there is such a thing as wasteful utilisation of ground with merely orna mental trees, but as in all mundane affair a happy medium is always attainable. Pinus insignis, though for many years considered a useless encumbrance of goo > soil, is fast achieving popular favour. It is a quick grower, and tha timber is now in great demand for the manufacture of butter boxes, and can be also used for rough inside lining for buildings. The Lawsoniana is another commendable shelter tree. Farmers should also remember the old adage that it is not advisable to put ali one's eggs in the same basket, and it would pay well to embark in shesp-raising for Matamata has long been found fret from footrot, andits fat sheep have in many seasons held the record for prices in tht metropolitan market. At present eweand lambs and wool are profitable, and in addition, sheep keep down weeds far bettei than other st ck.