PUMICE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 444, 2 March 1912, Page 7

PUMICE LANDS.

One of the problems awaiting solution in connection with the further development of the North Island, is the question as to what is to be done with the huge areas of what is known as pumice land. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of land around Lake Taupo which hag at some period been covered with pumice, volcanic ash, and other debris from the Tongarivo volcano. It is mainly clothed with fern, and in its present state is practically useless even for pastoral purposes, as may be gathered from the fact that portions of it have been sold at about half-a-crown an acre. Within the lifetime of the present generation the eruption of Taravvera has shown us what can be done to spoil even fairly good land, by its becoming covered with vocanic ash, although in this case land which has not received a very heavy is showing a measure of recovery. Ihe outlook over the pumice country from a height, says, from Mount Tauhara, near Taupo, reveals a strange scene of desolation. For miles in every direction the eye travels over what appears to be a brownish-grey desert, with no sign of cultivation, if we may except the small patch of trees and grass in the neighbourhood of Lie township. Within the last two 01 three years, however, the idea has grownup that, under suitable treatment, something may be done to improve this class of land. The Government tree-planting operations in the neighbourhood of Waiotapu have shown that trees can be grown upon it with advantage. Between Waiotapu and Taupo, where it must be admitted the land is decidedly better than the bulk of that we have been describing, experiments have been made which seem to show, says the Weekly Press, that by the expenditure of a large amount of capital in ploughing, fallowing and manuring, the land can be mnde not only to hold grass, but to grow general crops. Mr Butcher, an enterprising settler, took up a large area of land and began to test its value. His experiments were so far successful that he has sold an extensive block at a considerable increase in price to other enterprising colonists, one of whom bears a name well known in Canterbury. A block of 48,000 acres is now said to be carrying 8000 sheep, while about 500 acres have been put into oats, and have borne a good crop.