The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1914. THE SANDS OF HOKIO.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 March 1914, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1914. THE SANDS OF HOKIO.

\Vi:aj,tii uiigathered lies in llokio sauds. These groat areas of iinutilised Jands have lain waste 100 long; it is time some definite scheme was devised and persisted in to the end that the resources oi this district may be extended, and that at the same time an ever-present risk to the better lands of the district may be minimised. Sand lands, properly treated, may be made highly productive. This lesson lias been taught very eliectively in recent years, in extensive parts ot France and Belgium that once were sand wastes simply. -Now they are covered with, timbei trees in parts, and in other wide areas there are profitable market gardens. All this has been done by systematic plantations of suitable grasses and shrubs. The movement to obtain Government assistance to this, end unfortunately has failed so far as Levin and district are concerned, but in other parts the- Government lias been more kindly inclined, and good results have followed their efforts. Of tile results achieved further up the Manawatu Coast little or nothing has been made public, so far. but doubtless there will be information vouched when the next annual report of the Lands and Forestry officials is presented to Parliament. For the present, an object lesson on the possibilities of sand cultivation is aiiorded by the case of Te Oranga House, a Government institution situated amongst the sands of JNew 13 rig Jl- - Cliristchurcli. There, in sand treated with manure and allowed to lie awhile, some excellent potatoes have been grown this season. From an account published in the bhristchutcli Star we note that Up-to-Dnte, Beauty of Hebron and Early ilose varieties all were grown successfully in the sands. The managei of the Home (Mr Macpherson) states that the sand was first sown with annual lupins, which were then ploughed in to build up- the soil by putting organic mallei into it. He produced tubes of pure sand before sowing and samples of the sand as it became profitable under the lupin treatment.

"We are trying to get people or

the laud to utilise it to some pro fit," he said, "and we are prepared to show them how to help then and assist them. There is no rea. son why the whole sand ami should not he brought at once into profitable use if they adopt proper measures. No fertilisers arc needed.' . The parucular lupin required, said Mr Macpheiso-.i, had to be imported at present. ():l the three varieties, while, blue, and yellow, experiments so lav in the North Island indicated fh;u white was the best, though .some oi' the other varieties might bosuited to particular localities. .M ■ Mucpherson added that tEe tree lupins, broom and gorse grown on the sand at New linghiou n been the making oi' it.- They were leguminous, drawing nitrogen from the- air into the sand, while the decaying of the leaves, stems, and roots added nrga.ii

m.atter, and gradually built up the soil. ■ Uy using the luinuul roots the process would be much quicker, and proiitable crops could be quickly grown. In Auckland the lupin had been sown, and in two lnonths it' gave 241 tons of organic matter per acre to be ploughed into the soil. The potatoes £Town in sand were not more liable to bliu'ht lhaii others.

They canie more quickly to maturity, aud ilkuj- quality was ol the best. They were cleaner, with .scarcely any jacket, aud wero better eating , , without any soapinL'ss about them, and Uiey were floiu-y. Mr ALaepherson added, that he was growing lucerne, carI rots and parsnips on Ihe shilling sand without manure. The moral of the foregoing facts it? obvious enough. I'iiiuaiiJy there is needed in Levin ;i si-heme BufrJeienily extensive to proUieta long fronla.ge i'loni the insidious eucroachments of the .sea sliore •sands. There must be no plougl'i-ing-iu of tlie lupins and grasses here, but instead a further plaining ol' .shrubs and trees that will make an enduring eil'ective barrier against sand-drifts. Then, on the landward side ol (lie barrier, a _ great deal oJ: profitable cultivation may follow. It is not a scheme that wil.l. be brought to profit in twenty minutes nor in I twenty months: but it is ;t good ! one, and of a quality io appeal j to citizens who are.sucji in actual i nature. !