“BUSH SICK” LANDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 120, 11 February 1926, Page 6

“BUSH SICK” LANDS.

PROBLEM NEAR SOLUTION. Need for Practical Methods. Matters relating to tlie factor which has been described for many years as “bush sickness 7 ’ in the district contiguous to Mamaku, near Rotorua, were discussed by Mr F. C. Aston, chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, who is paying a brief visit to Auckland. Mr Aston has devoted many years of careful study to the question of bush sickness in the pumice area of the province, and has contributed valuable articles on the subject to the “Journal of Agriculture 7 7 issued by his department. His research work embraces exhaustive laboratory tests upon which were based. the practical experimental and demonstration work that has been carried but by the department in the “sick 77 areas during recent years. Those who possess the vision to understand what the eradication of bush sickness means to the Dominion, and to the Auckland Province in particular, will realise the importance of the statement by Mr Aston that the evil is being conquered. It has been an elusive thing and many theories in connection with it have had to be discarded. Sustained laboratory work has brought us close to a solution of the problem, and practical tests which have been carried out for some years are demonstrating that sound practical methods based on scientific discovery will transform a once banned district into one of the greatest producing areas of the Dominion. “Much More Optimistic.” Mr Aston said that at present the views of both the farmers and Government officials interested in the matter were much more optimistic than had been t‘he case in previous years. Experimental work carried out by the chemical division had thrown considerable light on a number of problems connected with the pumice lands. He was convinced now that if the methods advocated by the department were adopted and a proper farming system suitable for the district were followed there was no doubt that the great pumice areas could be successfully farmed in small or moderate-sized holdings. The district in the near future might not be so suitable for sheep-raising as for fattening and dairying. He quoted figures to show what was already being done in the way of dairying and stockcarrying in the affected areas. A gratifying feature was that two generations of dairying stock had been bred on the country and were thriving. -This proved beyond doubt that the district could be self-sustained under reasonable conditions. Proper Soil Survey Needed. A feature emphasised by Mr Aston was that a proper soil survey of the pumice areas should be carried out in conjunction with the topographical survey. There was undoubtedly some relation between the size of the soil particles and the pravelencc of bush sickness. It was found in most cases that where the soil was of coarse character there was a greater tendency to bush sickness than -where the soil particles were decomposed to a liner .state. Age, pressure and additional humus all helped to complete the process. The growth of pasture and crops assisted greatly in the decomposition of soils and the application of manures, together with suitable methods of cultivation, enabled both pasture and crops to bo grown on most of the pumice lands. It was therefore only a question of the farmer having sufficient capital to do the work thoroughly to enable most of these lands to be farmed successfully. Importance of Manuring. In dealing with the “bush sick 77 lands, said Mr Aston, manuring was a very important matter. The application of phosphatic fertilisers, together with a moderate quantity of sulphate of iron, had undoubtedly good results. He had visited districts in the bush sick area recently where men working on proper lines were achieving great success in dairying. He was convinced that the Rotorua district, when x>roperly handled would be one of the outstanding farming districts of the North v.lsland. What was known as the great lake basin of this district was practically free from bush sickness, but on the high levels and particularly on the Mamaku plateau there were affected areas. The same thing applied to the higher country and the coarse soil districts to the north of the lake and also toward Tauranga. The .Mamaku plateau, however, was the centre of the infection and here the Department had chiefly directed its attention. The farm devoted to experiment in the matter of affected soils and cattle was located at Mamaku. Until recent, years it had been deemed impossible to breed cattle in the district. The fact that two generations of dairying stock had been raised on the experimental farm had demonstrated the soundness of the Department’s methods. That success had neon achieved or. l.ues that could be carried out by any practical farmer. It was now only a matter of following established * practice and tlio whole of this immense district could be settled and made productive. Climatic Conditions. Referring to climatic conditions Mr Aston said it was of course necessary to take the usual precautions to protect the stock in a district subject t i cold snaps. Proper x revision should be made not only in the direction of winder feed, but also in *he way of shelter •belts of trees around the paddocks. The rugging of cows and other animals should also be attended to strictly as all these items were important in the farming scheme of the pumice district.