The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, February 26, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1213, 26 February 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, February 26, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

There are, in various parts of the Dominion, large areas ol pure sand, which at present are lying idle, for the most part covered wilh manuka, gorse, lupins, etc., and serve only as a harbour for rabbits. The Department of Agriculture is giving its attention to the possibilities of turning these at present useless areas to profitable use, and the success that has already been achieved points to the conclusion that in a few years’ time they will all be brought into profitable cultivation. Mr A. McPherson, who is in charge of the field experiments in the South Island, is now able to demonstrate that pure sand can be made to produce excelleut crops of potatoes, and there is no reason to suppose that this is the only crop that can be grown, and probably lucerne will be found to thrive equally well. Those who have sectious of land on the sand kuow the benefit that is obtained by digging in the ordinary perennial yellow lupin, but there is a more suitable variety of lupin than this that can be grown for the purpo=e of adding humus to the soil. The annual lupins, blue, yellow and white, have been tried, and the white variety has proved the most valuable, as it produces the greatest amount of organic matter. At the Auckland Exhibition white lupins produced in two months 24 l /i tons’ weight to the acre. At the Te Orangi Home, Burwood, an experiment in growing potatoes iu pure sand has been carried out, and a yield of seveu to eight tons per acre of beautiful table potatoes has been produced. The white lupins were first grown aud ploughed in, aud the potatoes planted were Beauty of Hebron, Early Rose and Up-to-date. The potatoes are clean and bright in the skin and of a suitable table size, and one advantage of growing them iu sand is that they ripen earlier. Samples of these potatoes are on view at the Auckland Exhibition. The Prime Minister, as Minister for Agriculture, is giving every encouragement and assistance to the officers of the Department of Agriculture to carry out these and similar experiments, which will be of great benefit to all parts of the Dominion. In this district there are thousands or acres of sand drift countrv, which, under scientific treatment, could be brought to profitable account. The first obstacle to be overcome is to stop the drift and this will not be accomplished unless the Government pass legislation giving power to local governing bodies to deal with this matter as with noxious growths, rabbits, etc. Shelter to windward is the first step to arrest the drilt, then the cultivation of lupins, which after two or three years growth form a fairly thick surface soil—the foundation for future treatment. It is not difficult nor a very expensive matter to get rid ot the lupins provided the soil where the lupins have been cut is not disturbed as the grass sown ultimately chokes them out. If the ground is turned over, however, the lupin seed springs lorth a hundredfold. We are certain that the vast area of sand country could, by systematic treatment as indicated above, be converted into good second-class grazing country instead ol remaining an arid waste as at present,

Mk, Braik, Chief Inspector of the Wanganui Education Board, in his first report to the Board this year say", inter alia: —“The present issue oi the syllabus recognises the claim that has been made mat more attention should be paid uiir schools to the study ol English history, a study which a previous issue did much to destroy. The study of history is to go baud ia hand with the study of citizenship, and the study of citizenship if it is to be worth anything should consist mainly in the practice of it. Each school should iu its esseutial features exemplify the life of a well-ordered community. A corporate life oi

this kind would be incomplete wit bout the insignia of honour and office, and it is suggested in the syllabus that alter the manner of the secondary schools, in which prefects are appointed, monitors bearing some distinguishing badge, might be appointed in the primary schools. Emphasis is laid on the fact that the best fruits of organisation are, as they ever have been, character, esprit de corps, and a zealous regard for the honour of the school.”

That cold baths are of much value in soothing shattered nerves is generally known, and therefore it was not surprising to learn from the lips of Dr. Truby King, that in the Seacliff Mental Hospital the daily cold bath forms part of the treatment for all but a tew inmates. At one time he found the attendants getting lax in this respect, and therefore issued an ‘‘instruction to the staff” as follows ; ‘‘There is no necessity for anyone to take breakfast, but it is necessary that everyone should take a cold bath, followed by 20 minutes’ active exercise.” Dr. King said he found himself misunderstood in this matter, as he had often been in others, for some years later, when travelling in a train, an old lady asked him if he still thought two meals a day was sufficient. He replied that he always had three meals a day, and intended to continue the practice. The old lady said she thought he advised that as long as a person had a cold bath and 20 minutes’ exercise afterwards they did not require breakfast. Dr. King, continuing, said that time spent in the retention of health was not wasted. It would be better for a man to have half-an-hour less sleep than forego the hall-hour's exercise per day necessary to keep him in good physical condition.