"MURRAYFIELD" The Estate of Mr. Leslie N.
Murdoch, at Glenorchy
(by "SILO")
It is more than half a century since the late
Mr. William Murray, one of the oldest identities in Southern Tasmania
selected the site of the estate which has ever since borne his name. "Murrayfield"
is snugly ensconced at the foot of Mount Wellington, about a mile from the
Glenorchy Railway Station, and some five miles in a north-westerly direction
from Hobart. The estate contains about 65 acres, scarcely one of which is
not put to profitable occupation. Of those under crop, eight acres produce
apples, five hops, ten gooseberries, six apricots, and a few yield plums and
currants. In addition, another thirteen acres are now being planted with
apples. Besides these, 20 acres are used for growing hay and root crops for
the stock; other crops are also grown, and scattered over the estate are a
large nursery, a fine piggery, and immense cider and soap works. "Murrayfield"
has been in the occupation of its present tennant, Mr. Leslie N. Murdoch
during the past nine years. Previous to that Mr. Murdoch managed the estate
for his late uncle, Mr. Murray, for some 13 years. The knowledge he gained
during that period has evidently been put to the best possible account, for
the estate has been much improved during Mr. Murdoch's occupation, and the
output both of fruit and manufactures has greatly increased. On the occasion
of my visit I was somewhat amazed at the variety of Mr. Murdoch's resources
and that gentleman's apparent energy and enterprise. First I was shown..
THE PIGGERY..
..which contained some 20 purebred
Berkshires, from stock imported from the last two Royal Shows in Melbourne;
also 80 crossbreds, mostly breeding sows and some for fattening, a Tamworth
sow and boar, which had only recently been purchased from Captain Chirnside
of Victoria, were shown me, and they certainly reflected great credit on
their progenitor, who cost 100 guineas landed in Melbourne.
Mr. Murdoch rears pigs only for the bacon and
pork market, and for that purpose he says you can get no better cross than
the Berkshire and Tamworth breeds. He is a regular exhibitor at the Hobart
shows, and invariably takes prizes, not only in the pig sections, but in
many others. Last year his Berkshire sow secured champion honours, and his
two Jersey cows (which he imported from Melbourne only a short time
previously) were awarded first and special prizes. These exhibits will be
found pourtrayed in the illustrated pages of this issue of the "Weekly
Courier".
THE NURSERY..
..is a large contributor to the sources of
Mr. Murdoch's income. No less than 10,000 fruit trees reared in the "Murrayfield"
nursery had been sold this year up to the time of my visit, and I was told
that the surprisingly large number of 21,000 trees, consisting of peaches,
apples, apricots, and plums, would be sold. The trees, as I saw them in the
middle of winter, all looked remarkably strong and healthy.
THE ORCHARD..
..is one of the richest to be found anywhere,
in proof of which I need only mention that, off three acres of land Mr.
Murdoch has reaped 1200 bushels of apples and 900 bushels of gooseberries.
The division of the orchard land among the different fruits grown I have
mentioned in my opening paragraph. The soil is all alluvial, and the
rainfall abundant for all purposes except hop growing - indeed, when I
visited "Murrayfield" I thought there was more than enough rain for
anything; at all events, there was too much for me. The hop fields are
irrigated by the water being conveyed on to the ground from Humphrey's
rivulet. Mr. Murdoch does both branch and spur pruning in order to let the
sun well in to colour the fruit. Only stable manure is used, the supply
being sufficient without calling for artificial agencies.
The apples grown
on the estate are mostly exported to London and Sydney, the poorer lots and
windfalls being reserved for the cider factory, for which another 2000
bushels are annually purchased from other orchardists.
On the subject of
SCALES..
..Mr. Murdoch was very keen, as he well might
be, seeing that just previous to my visit to "Murrayfield" the Government
Entomologist reported that he had discovered the San Jose scale there - a
matter which gave rise to much speculation and consequent irritation. Mr.
Murdoch himself was certain that the scale detected by Mr. Lea - which as I
saw it through a powerful magnifying glass, was about the size of a pin's
head, on the side of the apply, not skin deep, and of a brownish colour -
was not the dreaded San Jose at all, but what is known as the "Repax" scale.
In his opinion, Mr. Murdoch says he was supported by experts in both New
South Wales and Victoria. "Murrayfield" apples are not troubled with what is
known as the 'black spot', but the "mussel" scale was in evidence until
about three years ago, when it was eradicated by painting the trees with a
mineralised machine oil.
THE OUTPUT OF CIDER..
..at "Murrayfield" is larger than that to be
found anywhere else in the Commonwealth. A writer in last week's Courier"
says that it has always been a matter of surprise to him that Tasmanian
apple growers do not take up the cider industry more than they do. After
hearing what Mr. Murdoch had to say on the subject and inspecting his
splendid plant, I take leave to re-echo the views of your contributor.
Thousands of bushels of comparatively good apples are permitted to rot on
the ground year after year merely for the want of a little enterprise such
as that exhibited by Mr. Murdoch, who not only converts all his own wastes
and windfalls into a marketable commodity, but also, as I have said above,
utilises large quantities which he purchases from other orchardists near and
far. No less than 5000 gallons of cider have been made at "Murrayfield"
during the present year and on the occasion of my visit..
25,000 GALLONS..
..of cider, some of it three years old, were
maturing in wood. Mr. Murdoch exports large quantities of this article to
all parts of the mainland, beside having an extensive local market. A large
quantity goes to Launceston yearly to the cellars of Messrs Johnstone and
Wilmot, the sole agents in the north of the island. As to its quality, it is
enough to say that the "Murrayfield" cider has gained innumerable prizes all
over the Commonwealth, and the walls of Mr. Murdoch's office are placarded
with these evidences of the virtues of his beverage. Beside cider, cherry,
gooseberry, and grape wines of delicious flavour are also made at "Murrayfield",
so that there is practically no waste whatever among the fruit grown on the
estate. Another industry extensively and successfully carried on by Mr.
Murdoch is that of the manufacture of..
SOAP.
Last year about 200 tons of this article were
turned out, and it has commanded a big market in the south of the island for
many years. The soap works occupy a space of 75 ft by 100 ft, while there
are also two large tallow stores and a candle house. The pots in which the
tallow is boiled are of unusual size, each holding 18 tons. An invention of
Mr. Murdoch's own, which is simplicity itself, greatly expedites the turning
out of the soap. It consists of a platform of the size and shape of a bar of
soap. Several layers are placed on it, which are cut into 400 bars at once
by means of piano wires, which stand an enormous strain. At the side of "Murrayfield"
homestead, a picture of which, with its host in the foreground, will be
found in the illustrated pages. Mr. Murdoch has a large flower garden
containing some very choice plants, which he regularly exhibits at the
horticultural shows in the capital city with invariable success. Taken
altogether, it must be admitted that Mr. Murdoch is a man of many parts, and
that he plays them all well is abundantly manifested in the great degree of
success he has achieved since he became the squire of "Murrayfield". Apart
from his business career, he is one of the most respected residents of the
district in which he resides, and "Silo" wishes there were many more like
him."
