PUMICE LAND

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1930, Page 7

PUMICE LAND

BREAKING-’IN PROGRESS

BLOCK AT WHIRINAKI

SCRUB AREAS CLEARED,

PREPARING FOR SETTLEMENT

WMIfUNAKI, May 2. Following up its policy of developing the waste lands otf the Dominion, the Government lms started an important work on a large area of pumice land in the Rotorua district. The place selected is an education reserve of some 201)0 acres, situated about 14 miles from Rotorua, in the vicinity of the Old Toupo Road. It is known as part of the

'.Yhirinaki Block of the Guthrie Settlement. The land consists, more or less of 1 'w hills and plains set picturesquely wT.hin ramparts of towering mountains and a very large proportion can be ' rourrlit under the plough. A very fair ■‘pumice” road exists, giving access to the railway at Rotorua, and this being re-graded and improved by the Public Works Department. The whole of the area is thickly covered with short manuka, and by tussock in the gullies and on portions of '•be plains. Men are clearing the scrub ■mul. when operations ceased at Easter, about 450 acres had been felled TVis task gave employment to about 60 men, who were engaged on day wages 'mt a contract was let-for a bloc 1 -- o' about 200 acres to men, who used a tvae.to'r and mower with considera'A success. The level land and easy hillsides are being cleared, but the steeper nm-tbms are being Rdt for the incoming settlers to do.al with.

FARMS UP TO 200 ACRES.

Immediately the scrub has been burn ed the land is put under the plough, and a tractor with a three furrow plough attached is turning over an average of 25 acres a week. With the object of giving every section a frontage a road is also being put through the block, functioning with the present VOiirinaki Road. The plans show that the farms will vary in size from 150 to 200! acres, according to conditions of the country. The- Government has recognised that ; t must undertake the experiment of “breaking in” this pumice land, and the policy laid down by the Agricultural Department is that each farm shall be cleared, ploughed, fenced, and grassed and not to he opened for selection urti l properly established. The selected farms will t li en remain under supervision until the holders themselves, and the Department, have ascertained tile proper methods of' successfully working the land. With this object in view, the Department will take' over a block of 200 acres'and develop it for the purpose of ascertaining definitely if the land can be profitably used i ? or dairying. The knowledge thus obtained will be passed on.to the farmers in the block, and

they will be expected to conform with the advice given.

ESTABLISHING RYEGRASS

It has been proved that this class of country will produce abundant crops of clover, but the Department aims at ascertaining the possibility of establishing rye as a more rapidly-growing and permanent pasture than lias hitherto been accomplished. In bringing such lands into cultivation, a very heavy sowing of clover is usually made. Departmental experts are inclined to think that by such means the clover is permitted to dominate the rye, with the result that the establishment of permanent grass pasture is retarded. It is suggested that it might prove more advantageous to sow the clover lightly, or to plough in the first clover crop and follow up with the sowing of a more permanent grass miture. Another alternative is to put down clover for three years, then break up the land and put in a sowing of swedes, followed by a permanent pasture miture. This second sowing should not bo too highly charged with clover. These are the principal lines' along which the Department will make experiments and endeavour to obtain definite results for general guidance.

POSSIBILITIES AND OPINIONS,

That the work of the Government is being watched with keen interest is demonstrated by visits from farmers hailing from various parts of the North Island. As must be expected, opinions vary as to the ultimate value of the experimental development of these lands, but the consensus is favourable.

It has certainly been proved that the country readily responds to manurial treatment, but there is yet room for much investigation to ascertain the most suitable treatment. Super and slag in equal quantities have, so far shown good results, but the same can he said of other treatments. With the Government experiments it is hoped to find out not only which is the best way to obtain satisfactory results, but also whether those results can be obtained at a profit to the farmer. The pastures at present down are too new to provide an infallible guide to further action. In'the first place, they have been insufficiently grazed to promote healtbly growth (the greater part of the summer feed has gone into stack); and, secondly, the land has not had time to consolidate. This latter condition is held to be most important in pumice country, and the trampling of stock is the best natural method. SUBJECT TO SEVERE FROSTS.

The country is said to stand the dry weather exceptionally well; and, while there are not many open running streams, there is abundant seepage waver in all the gullies. The climate, however, is cold (50 fl'osts were recorded last winter), and then! is practically no growth In the winter months. But hopes are entertained that with the provision, of shelter and the rotation of crops, this handicap can be overcome. Can this land he brought into profitable occupation? That is a problem which farmers in all parts of the Doni■nion will be glad to see solved. Men now on the block declare that with capital and proper methods it is possible. The Government has tho capital and is prepared to find out the right methods. Therefore, should success attend the experiments, a great work will have been accomplished in the best interests of the Dominion, for in the Whirinaki Basin alone there are thousands upon thousand of acres of land awaiting developments. Further on again, the Government has another 10,000 acres which may receive early attention; while nearer to Rotorua, the Maoris have many more thousands of acre® + 0 he brought under cultivation. Work has already been commeuc>"d there, and suitable natives wi'.l have the chance of obtaining farms upon very easy terms. ,At present tin s? vast areas are desolate wastes. A few years hence they may be a great national asset.