RECLAIMING SAND DUNE AREAS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3640, 19 May 1927, Page 3

RECLAIMING SAND DUNE AREAS.

\\lolMv OF THE FORESTRY DE-

PARTMENT,

The Forestry Department is continuing the work of reclaiming the sand dune area along the coast to the south of the Rangitikei river and substantial progress is being made under the direction of the officer-in-eharge, Mr. T. Stringer. It is intended to complete this winter the planting of a marram grass belt along the coast line to the boundary of the area (some 3000 odd acres) under the control of this department. The area to be planted in marram this year is about 400 acres and another two years will, at the same rate of progress, see the whole of the drift sand area on this block planted with marram grass. And as the drift sand is thus held the planting of radiata and other trees will be proceeded with. In addition to arresting tlie drift sand, considerable areas of low-lying country usually under water during the winter months have been drained and small areas planted in flax with a view to testing the suitability of the wet flats for commercial flax growing. Generally speaking the work now being carried on is past the experimental stage, and is rendering good service. The original idea of the Government was to prevent the sand, which is continuously beinjg /washed up from the sea, drifting inland and covering good pasture country. The drift has very largely been arrested and, apart from the value of the work, in this connection, there are indications that the tree-planting and flax growing operations will ultimately prove remunerative and give a return for the outlay. This season well over 100,000 trees will be planted out, mostly radiates, but several other varieties of trees are being experimented with. The radiatas already planted are doing well and in a very few years there will be quite a fair sized plantation. For ||t)rk of .this description winter is the busy season of the year and at present seventeen men are employed in connection with the Forestry Department activities on this area.