TEE AQBICULTUBAL JOURNAL. •)85 



Natai Stud Farm, 



INTERVIEW WITH MR. P. D. SIMMONS. 



By " Ergatbs." 



THE " Natal Stud Farm " and the owner, 

 Mr. P. D. Simmons, are well-known 

 to most stock farmers in Natal and to 

 many beyond. This fact is due not only 

 to the class and quality of the stock of the 

 farm, but to Mr. Simmons' enterprise and 

 success as a show exhibitor. The risks, 

 worry, hard work, and cost which deter 

 many from exhibiting are ignored by Mr. 

 Simmons, and competing animals of his 

 have for years been found at every acces- 

 sible show, big and little — Durban, Pre- 

 toria, Johannesburg, Harrismith, Maritz- 

 burg, Ladysmith, Dundee, Estcourt, 

 Howick, etc. As one who shows typical 

 animals of high class he is a public bene- 

 factor, and all will readily admit that his 

 show honours, some very substantial in 

 character, are deservedly earned in every 

 respect. 



Mr. Simmons began farming some 15 

 years ago, having purchased the farm, 

 Bray Hill, of the late Mr. Wm. Popham. 

 The farm is situated about six miles from 

 the Mooi Hiver railway station, and ex- 

 tends from the south-west sides of the 

 range of high hills running from Bryn- 

 bellato Hlatikulu, and down to the river 

 on land formerly owned by Mr. H. Ryle 

 Shaw. By extensive planting of wattle 

 tree belts as wind breaks and for orna- 

 ment, the general aspect of the farm has 

 been changed almost beyond recognition. 

 When I made my visit the grass was at 

 its greenest, and the wattles of the miles 

 of strips were covered with the beautiful 

 blossom of which Lindsay Gordon so 

 rapturously sings Of course the home- 

 stead is much enlarged. On entering 

 there are two big barns with a covered 

 wagon way between, and of loose horse 

 boxes — all big, well lighted, well venti- 

 lated, and fitted with modern manger 

 arrangements — there are n(> fewer than 

 sixteen. 



Cattle. 



"What, I asked, made you go in for 

 Shorthorns ? You did not start with them 

 if I rejxiember rightly." 



"No, I began with Frieslands, but I 

 came to the conclusion they were too 

 soft, and I found that the large white 

 patches on their skins were subject to 

 scab in the winter months. Thinking 

 over the question of breed, I argued in 

 this manner : The Shorthorn is the most 

 favoured of all breeds throughout the 

 world, and the breeds doing best all 

 round in this part of the country being 

 the Shorthorn, it stands to reason that 

 that will be the best breed for me to adopt. 

 In 1888 I considered Mr. Wm. Wood's 

 Shorthorns to be the best troop of cattle 

 in the country. Having arrived at this 

 decision I sent my cows to the best avail- 

 able Shorthorn bulls. My view was a 

 good deal encouraged by a purchase I 

 made at this time. Mr. Theodore Woods 

 was selling ofp his cattle, and his cows 

 were made into three lots : the first at 

 £25, second at £15, and third at £7. One 

 that I considered the best in the troop 

 was in the second or £15 lot, and I bought 

 her. I showed her in Estcourt and got 

 the first prize of £5, and her first calf I 

 sold for £10. She had now paid for her- 

 self. Her next calf I sold for £25, and 

 others of her family were sold at prices 

 from £25 and £15. The one sold at £15 

 brought me also the Milking Champion- 

 ship prize at Durban of 15 gns., and I re- 

 served the right of her next calf, which 

 was to b« delivered free at Muoi River 

 station After nine years breeding from 

 the old original cow, I had her sold at 

 the Durban market, where she fetched 

 15 gus. She had not a tooth in her head, 

 but on bran and soft food she even then 

 was a first-class milker, xiltogether this 

 £15 cow brought me in prizes and cash 

 £168, and among the best of my stock are 

 her descendants." 



" When did you begin importing ? " 



" In 1891 I imported Viscount Oxford 

 XVI., and since then Master Mid Kent, 

 King Creake XIII., Rose Drake, Captain 

 Loftus, Clarence, Pendeen, Farmer's Hope, 

 and others. Most have been exhibited, 



