A RICH PROVINCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 1, 23 March 1927, Page 15

A RICH PROVINCE

FERTILITY OF THE SOIL

AUCKLAND’S POTENTIALITIES

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS Comprising in area nearly one-fifth of the Dominion, Auckland province provides scope for great development. Thousands, millions of acres at present unoccupied will eventually provide homes for settlers, all contributing their quota towards the general prosperity of the Dominion.

Extending from the Far North down nearly to New Plymouth on the West Coast and to below Gisborne on the East Coast, Auckland Province embraces practically all classes of country comprising nearly 13,000,000 acres in all. Of this, less than 8,000,000 acres are occupied. Even thj resources of the settled land, however, have, for the most part, been scarcely tapped and the county is capable of a considerable economical increase of production. Suitability for Stock.

Except for the land lying near a group of high mountains in the centre

of the North Island most of the land in the province is of fairly low elevation in no part any great distance from the sea. Thus it enjoys a most

equitable climate allowing stock to be grazed in the open at all seasons of the year. Pastures and crops are assisted by an average rainfall of from 55 to 60 inches evenly distributed throughout the year. Much of the land in the province comprises easy ploughable hill country or large stretches of flats which respond readily to cultivation. The soils are of a most varied nature, ranging from rich fertile loamy country distributed in various parts of the Province to the gum-lands of the North and the pumice country of the South. Extensive areas of swamp and peat lands which will eventually be brought into profit are to be found in various parts of the district.

The chief mineral deficiencies of the soil are lime and phosphates. The province, however, possesses an abundance of limestone deposits, and phosphates are available to -the farmer at rates which bring them well within the range of his purchasing power. With the application of fertilisers it has been proved that there is little ploughable land in the Auckland district which will not respond to practical farming methods. In fact, within the last decade Government experts, claim that all the pumice and gum areas, comprising over 3,000,000 acres, which were previously considered waste lands and not worthy of attention, can all be brought into a state of profitable I occupation.

Dairying Is, of course, the major industry, but by reason of its varied soil conditions and favourable climate, it is admirably suited for the raising of fat lambs and wool growing, for cattle and pig rearing, for the production of poultry and egg products, for fruit and timber growing and. finally, for a very much wider range of crops than any other part of New Zealand, chiefly because of the warm moist climate which allows the successful cultivation of sub-tropical crops which at present are not widely grown. Maize has proved a most profitable crop, while cotton, tobacco, sugar beet, buckwheat, sorghums and fruits of a tropical nature have all been proved to thrive well, especially

in the northern portion of the province. At Pukekohe and Titirangi, districts blest with deposits of rich loamy volcanic soil, as many as three crops of potatoes can be taken off in a year while onions also thrive exceedingly well. This in itself is sufficient indication of the posibilities of the district and of the fact that the fertility of its soils in some areas, combined with climatic conditions, are unexcelled for crop growing in any part of the world. Amazing Record of Dairying. In the development of its dairying potentialities Auckland stands supreme among the dairying districts of New Zealand, if not the Southern Hemisphere. The story of the growth of the industry in the province is, in fact, a striking , record of almost unparalleled progress and enterprise. In 1890 the total value of its butter and cheese products was estimated at £21,873. By 1910 it had increased well past the half million mark, but it is during the last decade that it has registered the greatest progress, and to-day the export figures from the district comprise one-third of the total figures for the Dominion, the output from the Auckland province being estimated at well over £6,000,000. A Challenge to Pessimists. These amazing figures provide a direct and convincing challenge to any pessimist who would question the possibilities of the district or the future prosperity of its farmers. They record an achievement well in accord with the natural conditions most favourable for practically all sections of the pastoral and agricultural industry and prove conclusively the pastoral and fodder characteristics of the district. A pleasing feature of the dairy industry also is the increased attention paid by farmers and dairy factory managers to herd improvement and higher cream grading, thus keeping the quality of the produce well up to the standard required for competition on the Home markets. Sheep-Raising. Sheep-farming, however, has proved Though well suited for sheep-raising, it is unlikely that Auckland province will ever be a great wool or mutton producing district. Dairying and agricultural farming, allowing more intensive production, provide greater avenues for increased returns.