Untitled

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 November 1913, Page 3

Mrs C. H. Spinley, of Te Pua, I returned to her home on Saturday from the local private hospital, in much improved health. A young man named Thomas Hamilton, of Wainui, was admitted to the local hospital the other day suffering with a broken leg, the mishap being the result of a kick from a cow. The death of Mr T. Cotter, K. C, who recently underwent two operations and was reported to be making good progress, took place last Friday. Sweet clover (Melilotus alba) has been largely recommended as a crop to, be followed by lucerne. Sweet clover should occupy the ground twelve months previous to the preparation of tlie ground for ' lucerne. No soil-iu-oculation is necessary when sweet clover is used. Melilotus alba is the best species to use. In most parts of New Zealand the preliminary cropping with sweet clover is not necessary unless the --ground contain too many w reeds. Maritime or Seaside Pine (Pinus hale-pensie, Var. Maritima) —This pine is grown extensively at Arcachon, an inlet of the Bay of Biscay, south of Bordeaux, where there are sand-dunes up to 400 ft. in height. This sand was drifting over the rich flats called "The Landes." The Landes is noted for grape-growing and wine-production. Years ago the French Government offered a reward to any one who could discover some means of stopping this drifting of sand, which was working inland rapidly. A French engineer took the matter in hand and sowed seeds of the above pine. Now there are vast forests as thick as any New Zealand Juish. The products from the above pine trees are turpentine, char-* coal, and telegraph-poles, which are sent all over Europe. The result of these trees being planted at Arcachon, which was once a small fishing-village, has been to make it a large and fashionable watering-place. A fine monument, is erected there in honour of the engineer who utilized Pinus maritima as a sand-binding agent, and thereby transformed the district.