11 Aug., 1919. J ISettlement in Districts of Heavy Rainfall. 



481 



In view of the stx-ingency of the finances, many another might have 

 been tempted to omit the grass seed, tester, and scales, but Mr. Rey- 

 nolds, who had just returned to the settlement, inspired by what he had 

 seen in the Taranaki district. New Zealand, regarded them as vital. 

 The results show that his judgment was ccrrect. 



The block, whicii is not being actively worked just at present, consists 

 of 188 acres, of which 20 acres are sown to grass, and usually there are 

 12 acres of oats, 10 acres of peas, 5 acres of maize, 5 acres of potatoes, 

 and 1 acre of field carrots. The rest is bush. The soil is a deep rich 

 friable volcanic loam. The slopes are fairly steep. 



On the 20 acres of grass six cows are maintained. The peas and 

 potatoes are fed to four sows. Two working horses are kept. 



One of the firm convictions that Mr. Reynolds brought back with 

 him from New Zealand was the belief that artificial grasses and clovers 

 would do well at Tolmie on the volcanic soil. The mixture sown was half 

 a bushel of cocksfoot, half a bushel of perennial rye grass, two' pound? 

 of white Dutch clover, and three pounds of cow grass. The cow grass 

 disappeared after a couple of years, but the others have done splendidly. 

 The cocksfoot " holds " particularly well, and grows luxuriantly. The 

 bulk of the feed produced on this paddock is remarkable, and a striking 

 contrast to the native grass alongside it. Excellent crops of gra s hay 

 have been cut with a binder. 



Mr. Reynolds while in New Zealand learned the simple art of using 

 the Babcock tester, and determined to test his few cows systematically. 

 Some of the cows were discovered to average only a 2.8 test, while others 

 gave as high as 4.5 per cent. During 1915-19 two cows, whii.h stoofl 

 out from the rest, gave yields as follows: — 



Topsy. Daisy. 



lbs. lbs. 



September . — . . 750 



October . . . 930 . 868 



November . .. . 1,110 . 1,050 



December .. 1,170 1.050 



January . 1,023 ... 930 



Februarv ... 840i ... 728 



March ■ ... 775 713 



April ... 600 .. 465 



May ... 372 310 



June 300 . 150 



July 155 . — 



Total 



Test 

 Butter fat 



7,282 



4% 

 291 



7,014 



4% 

 280 



The cows were hand-fed with oats and carrots during the winter. In 

 summer the grazing was supplemented with maize. In the hot season 

 of the year all cream was cooled to 55 degrees in a spring, and top 

 prices were realized. 



When in New Zealand Mr. Reynolds' attention was turned to pigs. 

 The results he got from the first sow which he purchased at Tolmie were 

 encouraging. The progeny of this pig realized £135 in three seasons 



9083.— 2 



