THE MAKERUA AND MOUTOA FLAX AREAS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1743, 2 August 1917, Page 4

THE MAKERUA AND MOUTOA FLAX AREAS.

IN RELATION TO LARVAL ATTACK. [By D. Miller, Entomologist, in (lie Jonninl of Agriculture.] The following' is a furlhcr report of the investigations made by Mr Miller in connection with the flax grub;— The makorua and Moutoa flax areas in the Manawatu district, which consist of about 19,000 acres, are the largest in New Zealand, and of outstanding importance in the flaxmilling industry, there being forty-one strippers at work in the Makerua alone. An understanding of the topography and physical conditions of these swamps is therefore of considerable value in studying the matter of control of the pests and diseases of phormium described by the writer in last months’ Journal, to which article these notes are supplementary. The areas in question form an elongate tract of country lying in a north-easterly and south-westerly direction in the vicinity of the Manawatu River, extending from Linton in the north to near the coast at Foxton in the south. The Makerua'is separated from the Moutoa by the river, the latter area being bounded on all sides, except on the north, by a large bend of the'Manawatu. The Makerua Swamp (about 14,000 acres), is, roughly, triangular in shape, with its apex at Linton,

being bounded on the west and south (base) by the river and on the oast by the foothills of the Tararua Mountains.

From Linton to the south-west corner of the Makerua the Manawatu River flows between well-edfined and, in places, very deep banks, but along the southern side —i.e., between the Makerua and the Moutoa —the banks gradually become less defined, until around the greater part of the Moutoa they are very shallow. This lower portion is affected by the tides, and in consequence of this and the shallow banks the river more readily floods the Moutoa and the south side of the Makerua. In these- localities the land contains a much greater percentage of moisture than farther up the river. This point was demonstrated during the drought of last summer when the pasturage of the Moutoa locality was compared with the dried-up areas of surrounding districts.

The Makerua Swamp lies in a decided hollow, the river banks being well above the level of the area ; this is particularly prominent along the western and, to a less extent, the soul hern sides. On' the other hand, this is not at all a marked feature of where the river is more or less tidal and certainly more sluggish. In the Mekerua along the river-banks and across the north side of the Moutoa are several lagoons which are either wholly or partially dry during the summer.

Both these areas have been well drained —more particularly the Makerua.. In the Moutoa it large channel has been cut, into which the smaller drains lead; this channel is usually full of slowly flowing water. On the other hand, the Makerua. is drained by two main longitudinal channels and the Tokomaru Stream, all of which join the river along the south side of the swamp. This swamp, particularly the northern half, has been overdrained. [Recent investigations have shown that the larvae of the (lax-grub winter in the'soil, and this fact, demonstrates possibility that winter flooding will prove an effective method of control. The ground should be flooded just prior to the pupation of the larvae, and studios are being carried out to determine the minjmum

saturation of soil necessary lo kill (lie larvae.] Though there is a good growth of /lax, the conditions, owing lo Hie comparative dryness from draining, are exceptionally favourable for the propagation of (lie larvae attacking Jlax. In these overdrained areas apparently more leaflubes form than where there is a moderate amount of moisture. If moisture affects the age of the leaf the advantage of not having the swamps overdry would be twofold; there would be more leaf at time of cutting, and less larval attack owing to the lack of leaf-tube shelters. In nmister localities, ,such as the Mouloa and those gullies aloiig tin; oast side of the Makerua, fewer leaf-tubes appear, and larval attacks cause no appreciable damage.

The soil of the Makerua is composed of peal:, becoming shallower towards (ho foothills on the east and deeper as the swamp falls to the cent re. From the river on the west to. the centre of the swamp, and for about half a mile from the river on the south, the peat is covered by sill from the floods. This deposit gradually thins out towards the ('.outre of this area, when the peat appears as the surface rises to t lie cast. The Makerua is flooded on the west and sottlh by the Manawatu ifiver, and on Iho east, sonlli of Tokomaru, by the Tokomaru Stream. The flora varies in its nature. Roughly speaking, north of Tokomaru —which is drier than to the. south —(he bush areas are mostly composed of pukatea (Laurelia novae-zealandiae), and amongst the flax a considerable growth of nigger-heads (Carex secla), while souflt of this kaliikatea (Podocarpus dacryidoides) and ranpo (Typha augustifolia) are in evidence. In the moister bush areas is a dense undergrowth of Coprosma, and throughout the swamp cabbagetrees (Cordyline australis) are a prominent feature. Formerly along the river and east side was a more or less complete circle of bush, but this in most places has been destroyed and the country grassed, only a few isolated (dumps of bush remaining. The birds most abundant in the Makerua are starlings, thrushes, blackbirds, and yellowhammers. These keep mostly to the bush areas and along (he margins' of (he flax area. Formerly pukekos and bushhens were common, but they have been practically exterminated; occasionally pukekos are found in the vicinity of the lagoons along the river-bank. The following brief sketch of the history of the Makerua as a tlaxmilling area lias been supplied by Mr A. Seifert: — Originally the Makerua Swamp was more or less a morass, there being very little flax except along the elevated river banks and here and there upon nigger-heads or similar elevated positions. Since then, however, the swamp has been TRADE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES In foreign countries you come into competition with the best of goods from, every land. An article must have merit of the highest order to win esteem. In many of these countries Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy is the most popular medicine in use for coughs and colds, because it is the best. Epr sale everywhere.— Advt. Wanted Known: You can get better groceries for the same money at Walker and Fume’s.

heavily drained, 6o that now it is comparatively dry and carries a dense growth of flax. Before’l9o2 a portion of this area was drained in the vicinity of Tokomaru, Linton, and on "the west side near Rangitane, where a mill was opened in 1900 ( utilising the flax growing along the river bank. This flax has now died, out, being replaced by a grass-belt between the present flax area and the river. During the winter of 1902 the remainder of the swamp —i.c., south of Tokomaru — consisting of 12,300 acres, of which about 9,000 acres were in flax, was purchased from the Manawatu Railway Company by the newly formed Makerua Estate Company, which went to considerable expense in draining the area. Fires at this time were frequent, and practically half of the flax area was put down in grass after being burnt. However, there is now a good growth of flax in those burnt areas, which are considered the best flax land. The Makerua and Mouloa are subject to heavy floods from the river. Within the past thirty years the most extensive flood took place in .June, 1902. In 1908 and 1909 there were less severe ones, while in 1913 they were very frequent on the lower levels. The flood of August, 1900, was considered fairly severe. The grub first appeared, and was very bad, where the flax was being milled along the river bank in 1902, just after draining. On account of this 11 tons of leaf was required to produce 1 ton of fibre, the normal in this swamp being about 8 tons of leaf. On the east side,’ at Miranui, the grub did not appear till eight years after draining, when it became serious during 1910 and 1911, gradually becoming less apparent till the present time. At Tokomaru the larva! attacks reached their height during 1911. The Makerua has subsided and consolidated considerably since the drains were cut. The Mouloa Swamp was brokenin considerably before Makerua, flax having been cut regularly from the former during the past thirty years. ’ _ ~-A