INTENSE CULTIVATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1956, 25 March 1919, Page 2

INTENSE CULTIVATION.

IT Ims often been urged that Foxton soil is not suitable for intense cultivation by reason of its sandy nature and the lack of moisture, and that only early spring crops are successful. This contention, however, is quite the contrary to the facts in the' strict .sense of the ip-

tensive system, as the modern method does not rely on nature for its soil nor its supply of moisture, and .the primary mpiireinenls are a soil of an exceptionally porous nature upon which the gardener, or maraieher, makes his rich loam, from which such wonderful results are ultimately produced. In this connection, also, it would probably be found that the climate of Foxton is one of the best in the world for the strict intensive system. However, with systematic treatment of the sandy soil of this district in the way of digging' in sufficient humus in the nature of green manure, such as oats, vetches, and plants of a leguminous nature, prolific crops of vegetables may be raised locally. The borough area, however, is not all sandy, for east of .Johnston Street was once swamp land, and (he soil there for the most part is a rich natural loam suitable for intensive cultivation of the less ambitious kind. Almost any plot in the borough, however, is suitable for fruit cultivation, if shelter belts are provided to break the westerly winds, as there is plenty of moisture a few feet beneath the surface, and the climatic warmth and sunshine generally experienced in the summer and autumn is sufficient to promote full maturity in the fruit. Some of the tines! apples one would wish to see are grown locally.

A PKACTICA L illust v;i I ion of what (•an he produced from a, three-quar-ler acre section is afforded by Nlr Hussey, in Coley Street, where root crops have been grown averaging 70 tons to the acre, while the apple trees are a sight worth seeing, and include Kennelte du Canada. Prince Alfred, Munroe's Favourite, and Northern Spy, and upon each tree is a prolific crop. Mel ween the trees, root crops are cultivated. Several other small sections in the borough have produced equally good results.