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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 44

9.—Future Operations

9.—Future Operations.

The estates are stocked with sheep far below the carrying capacity of the land in its natural pasture.

Experience has shewn that the carrying capacity of such land for sheep and cattle breeding purposes only, can be increased six-fold by sowing English grasses and clover and dividing into smaller paddocks.

It has also been found that the returns from the land can be largely increased by bringing it under cultivation for grain.

It is therefore proposed by degrees to increase the number of the sheep, and also to bring more land into cultivation.

The line of railway running through the heart of the property will create a demand for agricultural holdings, and sites for towns and villages—lands for which may be expected to realize very handsome prices.

The settlement of a large and thriving population on first-class lands, hitherto occupied only by sheep and cattle, is an page 13 important object in the formation of this Company, and it is intended at several points of the estates to lay off suitable farms of from 200 to 2,000 acres, or upwards, in extent, with the object of leasing or selling the same to a desirable class of farmers at such rates as will leave large profits to the Company, whilst they will undoubtedly afford excellent prospects to the farmers.

The Company at the same time will be prepared to arrange advances of money at a fair rate of interest to such farmers, to be spent in buildings and improvements on their farms. Under this plan settlers of a most valuable class can be obtained, and a large and certain profit will in consequence accrue to the Company.

Whilst these operations will be very profitable to the Company, they will open to those who take advantage of them, and who can exercise frugality and prudence, the opportunity of future competence or wealth, according to the scale on which they are able to embark. As the Colony increases in population, the intrinsic value of land increases. Every person who acquires land of fair quality, has before him the certain prospect of receiving from it fair interest on his money from the outset, and of working it up to a value of at least £30 an acre; that is to say, a value either to sell at £30, or to yield at £30 per acre per annum ten per cent, on such value.

It is also proposed to form nurseries for forest and other trees, and to supply young trees to tenants and purchasers at moderate rates.