ORONGO FESCUE LAND.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5396, 6 March 1929, Page 3

ORONGO FESCUE LAND.

NEW SETTLER’S EXPERIMENT.

INTERESTING METHOD.

Over 400 acres Of, the dense, tall fescue-affected land at Orongo lias been taken up by Mr R. H. Findr layso.n, a North Auckland farmer, and an interesting method of working it is being tried. The land, which borders the Hauraki Gulf, is at the; end of the Opanae Road, ,where the metal is overgrown with fesc,ue, and presumably part of fhat which the South Auckland Land Board has had available for settlement for some time at £4 per acre.

Mr Findlayson burned the fescue last month when strong winds prevailed, The dense mat of dead grass was .thus removed and the clumps of fescue left. An ordinary road grader drawn by a tractor was used to turn Over a furrow about two feet wide, and just deep enough to ensure moving the clumps without turning, up the c,la,y. By employing an assistant for a second shift, Mr Findlayson was able to treat twenty acres a day, speed being essential owing to. the lateness in the season, and l the fact that clumps of fescue apparently burned, put out a. strong, growth which grows at the rate of. an inch a day. When the fescue thus ploughed becomes sufficiently dry it is burned. It is acknowledged that it is a pity to have to burn it, as the few inches of humus above the sea ejay is not improved by the process, but burning it is the cheapest and quickest way of disposing of, the grass. It is this burning which is causing much of the smoke which now enshrouds the Hauraki Plains. The burning is proving thorough and in a few days when it is completed the la-ndi will be harrowed smooth. > After the first shower of. rain innumerable fescue seedswill germinate, and it is proposed to repeat the process again and then let the land fallow during the wintejr. Its condition will determine the programme fdr next summer, but it is hoped to be able to get a catch crqjp before repeating the grading and burning process to deal with what fescue therq may be.

Mr Finlayson has land which was not spoiled by deep ploughing which buried what little humus there was anfi brought to the surface the useless clay, as was done by the Government in its misguided! efforts to clear the fesc.ue from the land settled ‘oy the returned soldiers. Extensive drain-: a.ge and stop-banking w or k have to be undertaken, for the land is Iqwlying and in. rough weather seas come rigfit over the stop-bank. If Mr .Findlayson demonstrates a method of. treating fesc,unaffected land he will be doing a great service to the Hauraki Plains and the lands along the Gulf, for the pest is spreading at an alarming rate from the thousands of acres at Ororigo where it is in sole charge, and is rapidly assuming control ’of farm land, all aong the sea front and river-hanks.