Field crops

Date: 2 Nov 2007 - 02 Nov 2007

From: Methven Heritage Project - RSA and Arable oral history project

By: Henderson, Graham Bruce, 1929-

Reference: OHInt-0920-06

Description: Interview with Bruce Henderson, born in Ashburton in 1929. Outlines his family background in Canterbury, and his father and six uncles all serving in World War I. Refers to his father farming on a soldier settlement block of 260 acres at Lyndhurst from 1920. Refers to his schooling, playing rugby, and cycling everywhere. Talks about the food they ate at home, having their own hens and pigs and meat from the farm. Comments that his father had a tractor by the time he was born so that he did not work with horses. Talks about not having irrigation on the farm during the dry 1930s. Mentions wet years in the 1940s, a heavy snowfall in 1945 and a massive hail storm in 1946. Refers to getting irrigation in 1948 and having to make the border dykes to avoid flooding. Describes manual watering from the ditches using canvas sheets in the early years until they could afford to install automated watering systems. Mentions having to build up the fertility of the soil to grow white clover and breed sheep successfully. Refers to marrying in 1954 and taking over the farm from his father in 1955. Discusses arable farming and using contractors to harvest. Talks about using direct drilling rather than ploughing from the late 1970s. Mentions crops he grew including white clover, sunflowers, linseed, dill and parsley for seeds as well as wheat and barley. Refers to having two thirds of the land in pasture for sheep. Talks about buying more land until he had 3,000 acres. Comments that each of his four sons now farms 700 to 800 acres, and he and his wife look after 140 acres. Refers to setting up a partnership with his sons when they were young, to reduce taxation. Mentions the contribution of his wife to the farm and business over the years. Discusses farming in recent years becoming harder and the influx of dairying into Canterbury. Outlines his community and social activities during his life - playing rugby when he was young, being in a pipe band for a period, and 35 years active in the Methven Presbyterian Church. Refers to being active in the Methven Young Farmers Club, Federated Farmers and the Lyndhurst Home and School. Interviewer(s) - Nicola Robertson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016747- OHC-016749 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 2.53 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe pdf Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6028, OHDL-001823. Search dates: 1929 - 2007

Date: [1980s]

From: Sheffield House Publications Collection

By: Hallet, P, active 1980s

Reference: PA12-11241

Description: Machines harvesting peas for J Wattie Foods Ltd Quantity: 4 colour original transparency/ies.

Date: [1980s]

From: Sheffield House Publications Collection

By: Hallet, P, active 1980s

Reference: PA12-11242

Description: Machines harvesting peas for J Wattie Foods Ltd Quantity: 2 colour original transparency/ies.

From: Alexander :Photographs of Te Aute College

Reference: 1/1-013191-G

Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: c1895

From: Jones, Frederick Nelson, 1881-1962 :Negatives of the Nelson district

Reference: 1/2-036278-F

Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: ca 1920

From: Babbage, Charles Whitmore, -1923 :Negatives of family scenes and Wanganui views

Reference: 1/1-013325-G

Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: [1930s]

Reference: PA1-o-1606

Description: Album of photographs of forestry projects, probably ca 1930s. Shows work camps, with children, official visits, Maori communities, breaking ground with caterpillar tractor, planting seedlings. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: 12.5 x 15.5 cm Provenance: Purchased at auction 2009