RECLAIMED SWAMP LANDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1841, 24 April 1884, Page 2

RECLAIMED SWAMP LANDS.

A vt-.it to Eiueka station, formerly a portion of the ffre.it Piako swamp, will prove satisfactorily that the ultimate results of diainage opeiations on the swamp lands of the district will be the reclaiming of lands of very gieat fertility. Wheiever on this property the diainage has been deep enough, and in operation im a sufficient length of time to allow of the sweetening of the land, grasses and all kinds of crops, whether grain or roots, grow in great luxuriance. The rye grass on some portions of the estate is really magnificent, and the appearance of the cattle testify to the fattening qualities of the pasture. As with most .swamp land after drainage, the obstacle to ploughing hat. been the quantity of timber exposed and the general roughness of the surface of the ground. A few weeks ago it occurred to Mi Suttor, the piopnetor of Eureka, to try the effect of a disc h.nrow on land in this state. It was expected th.it the harrow would come to grief over the timber, but foitunately it proved otiieiwi--e ) and the experiment was, so far, \ery satisfactory. After the disc harrow had chopped up the peaty matter into sqtiaies «'i hea\y V-shaped hairow diawn by tlnee hor-.es> followed, breikmg up and pulverising 1 the giound. The giav, a^ed was then sow n and a lu;a\y Cambridge roller was applied, lea\ ing the ground as presentable in appearance as though it had been ploughed.