CHECKING SAND DRIFT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1924, Page 4

CHECKING SAND DRIFT.

EXPERIMENTS AT RANGITIKEI. PALMERSTON N., Alarch 14. The problem of checking sand drifts along tho west coast, or for that matter in any part of New Zealand where drifting sand is a constant menace to fertile lands adjacent, is expected to bo solved as a result of experimental work at present in progress on this coast in tho vicinity of the mouth of the iiangitikei River. The Forestry Department is reclaiming a portion of the sand dune area in that locality as an experiment, the object being to ascertain the most effective and cheapest method of reclaiming sandy areas and stopping the havoc caused by drifts. The work was inspected this week by Mr Coudie, Conservator of State Forests. It now lias been in progress three years.

Mr Goudie, when interviewed today, stated that they now had sufficient marram grass stock to cover about two hundred acres during this winter. In 1925 it was expected to cover a thousand acres and sand fixation work was expected to he done by the end of that year. In anticipation of this he had selected a site for a forest tree nursery which in the near future would he puffin order for sowing tree crops some time next October. The nursery would be sufficiently large to enable about half a million trees to lie handled. These would he planted over an area of about 2500 acres when the Department took over this area. The intention was to solve the problem of fixing sand by the best and cheapest method. Afost of the work had been of an experimental nature, and he anticipated that the experience gained would he consolidated and made available for similar sandy areas throughout Now Zealand. The area on which they now were working would he planted with trees. It was probably the worst in the Dominion, owing to the very severe winds to contend with. The area now being dealt with will protect three miles of country when completed. The department had been experimenting with spneement and nrrnnginent of planting marram grass with a view to controlling drifts and diffusion of wind evenly over llte whole area. “Tho tiling to lie avoided” he said “is planting in rows, which give a series of wind channels. AVo have tried out a system of planting in curved lines to ensure even diffusion of wind over, the whole area. The full effects of these experiments have notyet manifested themselves.” In conclusion AIY Goudie said he was very satisfied with the results so far achieved. The final solution of the problem lies in the planting of trees which will prove a profitable crop and also recoup the Government for the outlay in the cost of sand fixation.