FIGHTING THE SAND DRIFTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1793, 23 February 1918, Page 3

FIGHTING THE SAND DRIFTS.

After his lecture at Levin on Wednesday, Mr J. H. Simmonds wa* questioned by the Mayor (Mr Blenkhom) as to the possibility of tree planting on the coastal area with a view to the arrest of the sand drift which is doing so much damage to the pastures in the vicinity of Levin. Mr Simmonds said the question was"answered at Foxton and Orouq Downs. Many years ago the sand there used to drift across the railway line. The sand ridges were therefore planted with pinus nis, and these had grown to enormous size. Vegetation had sprung up about the plantations, and both on the landward and seaward side the sand had been arrested by the arrest of the stream of air. On the seaward side enormous numbers of young seedlings had begun to grow. Mr Simmonds said his advice was therefore to start on the landward side of the drifts, and to plant pinus insignis, and to endeavour to es-> tablish marram grass on the seaward side of the plantation. Thus they would be enabled to conquer the advancing sand. He said there was an object lesson of the value of these trees at the residence of Mr Marshall, President of the Farmers’ Union, near Marton. His property was menaced by sand drift, and he planted pines and gums parallel with the drift. The pines grew phenomenally. The sand invaded the plantation, burying the outside trees to a depth of 10 to 12 feet. To-day one could sec the old lower branches coming out of the sand. Mr Simmonds said the trees did not die.

Mr D. Hannah enquired as to the ago at which to plant the trees to best cope with the sand. Mr Simmomls said the trees should be a foot or eighteen inches in height, second season trees —ones that were pro'pagated one season and taken out of the nursery the next. Mr Simmonds mdded that Mr Goudic, the Government Forester at Whakarowarewa, was prepared to supply larger quantities of suitable trees. The lecturer advised the planting of a few rows of murieata on the-.outside of that, these latter being of much slower growth hut more resistant to the wind. ANOTHER SAND FIGHGTER. A Palmerston gentleman who is keenly interested in economic botany, has been instrumental in introducing to that district a plant which has already proved itself a valuable aid in reclaiming sand and other waste areas. The discovery of the plant in these latitudes is rather interesting. The gentleman referred to states: “Between Tasmania and Victoria there is a fair-sized island, called King’s Island. Years ago it was a waste of white sand. A wreck occurred,"’ and from it a bed mattress floated ashore. Where it rotted a green patch appeared, and the growth" ultimately spread over the sands of the island, converting the barren areas into excellent pastures. The Victorian Agricultural Department introduced the.plant to the coastal areas of that State with great success. For a long time its nature was not determined, but now it is officially classified as bnelilotns parviflorus.’ It is a legume, and related to the clovers and lucerne. It grows luxuriantly, and the dying leaves add humus to the sands, and the abundant root nodules quickly nitrate the soil. In Amei'iea it has been used on poor clay lands for reclamation with good results.” The gentleman further. stated that the believes the sand areas of the west coast of the North Island could bo turned to good use if this plant were extensively introduced. Ho supplied the Palmerston Standard with a parcel of seed for distribution in such areas. Correspondence from King’s Island shows that-the effect of this plant ,has not been ox* aggerated. The time to sow is in February, and the seed should he soaked in water for several hours before sowing. Particulars of this plant and its reputed qualities have been brought under notice, with a view to making some enquiries about i{ and its applicability to the sand drifts in this district.

The Rev. J. 11. Simmonds, of Wesley College, Auckland, who is visiting this district in the interests of private forestry, under the auspices of the Farmers’ Union,' made an inspection of various plantations in this district. It was found that numbers of the trees were quite unsuitable to the locality, and Mr Simmonds suggested the planting of eucalyptus maearthuri, viminalis, obliqua, solingna and pilularis as likely to give the best results both for shelter and timber purposes.