AFFORESTATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3036, 15 May 1926, Page 3

AFFORESTATION.

RECLAIMING SAND DRIFT COUNTRY. VISIT BY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. 0. J. Tlawken) visited the afforestation work at Oroua Downs on Wednesday. After his visit of inspection, the Minister stated that the Department had been planting the drifting sand areas with Marram grass, raising up a fore-dune on the seashore, in order to stop the drift sand from the shore going inland, and also providing shelter with trees. “Good progress has been made with the planting of the drifting sand areas with Marram grass and the work seems to a large extent to have achicved the object,” said Mr Hawken. “About 150 acres have been planted in trees of various kinds, and, further areas will be planted. There is, however, a considerable portion of the ground which is not suitable for tree planting, and it will be the duty of the Agricultural Department to see if these areas cannot be brought back into grass and so become useful productive ground. “The trees already planted,” added the Minister, “have done reasonably well, but it is not thought that any large portion of this area will be suitable for commercial timber growing. There are now very few rabbits on the area and no stock. In certain areas it is evident that regeneration of grass pasture is taking place.” The Minister pointed out that owing to the strong winds which continually blew in from the sea, dealing with the sand drift nuisance was a difficult and expensive problem, good work had been done, however, and it was hoped that a few years would see the solution of the problem.