PRODUCTION FROM SCRUB AND PUMICE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 58, 30 October 1931, Page 3

PRODUCTION FROM SCRUB AND PUMICE

(Special to the "Post.")

DEVELOPMENT WORK THOUSANDS OF ACRES BEING BROUGHT IN NEAR ROTORUA PROSPECTS IN NEAR FUTURE

Few people realise that within . a few miles of the town of Rotorua ovei* 32,000 acres of land are being brought into cultivatioris * . ^ It has been«odffiindh knowledge that development operations have been in progress in the Whirinaki Basin, and Ngakuru No. 1 and 2 blocks, are recognised as centres of Government activity, but few are actually acquainted with the extent of the operations in progress in this area. To-day thousands of acres of hitherto barren scrub land have given place to green pastures and substantial hornes are being built up in what was a few short months ago a wilderness. It is less than two, years — to he precise, ahout 20 months — since operations were commenced upon the development of the pumice lands of Ngakuru No. 1 Bloek, lying in the Whirnaki Basin some 14 miles from Rotorua. There was a good deal of sceptieism - with regard to the worth of these waste pumice lands, but the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, deeided to try out the breaking in of 2,500 acres of land typical of the class of country in the district. Men were put on to cut the scrub and implements were provided for breaking the land. Advised by experts of the Department of Agriculture (Mr. C. Dalgleish and later Mr. Hill), the land was cultivated upon approved scientific methods. being ploughed, harrowed, diseed, rolled and sown with pasture. Substantial fences were .ereeted and sub-divisions and boundaries planted with shelter belts of trees. To-day v/liat a short time ago was a desolate countryside is now green with rich pasture and rich with the promise of future profit to the Dominion, Demonstration Areas With the object of demonstrating the correct method of farming this land, and to aecertain hy experiment what are the most henificial treatments for the soil, one section has heen specially set apart, and to-day it has been so far brought into profit that 60 milking Jerseys and 40 head of young stock are being carried upon 84 acres. Incidentally, these 60 cows are reported to be producing hutterfat at present at the rate of 34 lbs, " of fat per cow per month. For the purpose of making ensilage j 85 acres have heen locked up, which j accounts for 169 of the 170 acres j cleared and in pasture on this sub- ! division. Sub-divisons provide for 1 rotational feeding, there is water in I every paddock, raees for the transfer i of stock, up-to-date milking and imj plement sheds, and eomfortable fiveroomed house. No reasonable expense has been spared to thoroughly equip this farm, ,and it is estimated that j the cost of bringing it into its present I state of production — everything in — 1 is £20 an acre. That cost is based upon the 170 acres in cultivation, but i if the total area of the section, 220 ; acres, is counted in, the cost works ; out at £15 an acre. This expenditure, j and the result aehieved, it must he ; remembered, have not been spread ! over a numher of years. It is but a ; strefch of 20 months from scrub to | butter-fat. The demonstration farm i is probably showing up better at prei sent than other sub-divisions, but tak- ! en as a whole the growth of pasture ! on Nga kuru No 1 Block is an object I lesson to the Dominion. It proves, be- | yond doubt that grass can be grown on the light pumice soil and there . is every reason to hope that the cost of cultivation will permit of an adequate farming profit. Big Work Ahead j Turning from what has already j been aeeomplished on Ngakuru No 1 j an observer cannot be other* than as1 tonished at the fine work which has ! been aeeomplished on the second big ? area taken in -hand. This block is known as Ngakuru No. 2 and comprises about 10,000 acres. It lies about two miles beyond the first block and is practically the same class of country. The Minister in charge expressed the wish to have 3,500 acres cleared and sown by next March, and it seems safe to say that more than this will be aeeomplished within the stated t:me. Mr. R. P. Hill, the officer in charge has responded to the call with commendable energy and much of the task set him has been eompleted. The magnitude of the undertaking is not generally recognised, but a visit to the locality would be enlightening as to what can he aeeomplished in this class of the country There are 60 men on the job, with 40 horses, four tractors and aecompanying ploughs, rollers, harrows etc. The area taken in and cleared to date is 3,500 acres. Of this 200 acres is already in grass and carrying stock — prineipally horses. Spring sowing has heen carried out over 1,000 acres, and hy the middle of November another 1000 acres will have heen put down, leaving 1,500 acres for the autumn sowing. Operations are in progress to clear and bring in another 2,000 acres this season, which will leave about 5-, 000 acres for a future programme. Much the same methods are being followed here as on Block. No i. The area cultivaied has heen subdivided into 20 sections, ranging in size from 120 to 220 acres. All divisions have been planted with trees. In wind-swept areas main divisions have heen planted one chain wide, but on ordinary boundaries the width is half a chain. Particular attention is being paid to the planting of trees as it is recognised that adequate shelter will be a great factor in securing future sueeess. Some idea of the work in hand may be gathered I