LUPIN A BENEFACTOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2996, 9 February 1926, Page 3

LUPIN A BENEFACTOR.

The part that lupin has played in stopping sand drift and vitalising the soil at the local seaside was stressed in a conversation our representative had with Mr. Alsop yesterday. Mr. Alsop said to declare lupin a noxious weed would be an act of foolishness. “If any ono wants evidence'of the benefits of lupin, let them make an inspection of the land at the feeaside settlement,” said Mr. Alsop. “It lias stopped the sand from drifting, its decaying vegetation has given a top-dressing to the surface of the ground, it has given nitrogen to the soil and oats and vegetables flourish where lupin has been planted. Apart from this it affords good shelter for tree planting. It is easy to get rid of and when chopped it quickly rots and acts as a fertiliser. The growth of lupin on the Bainesse length of the Foxton-Palmerston railway has saved the Railway Department considerable expense, in preventing the sand from drifting on to the permanent way. A similar benefit to the railway was experienced on the Manawatu line near Paekakariki. On some of the main roads its growth may encroach on the road, but if it wasn’t there the sand drift would be and that would be much worse for the public. The road lines could be cleared at little expense by land owners. Where grass seed is sown beneath cut lupin it quickly chokes out the latter. I think the Manawatu County Council,” concluded Mr. Alsop, “would have done greaer harm than good by declaring lapin a noxious weed.’”