D-i

On the two comparable valleys on the farm, cattle only will be tried out against a cattle and sheep economy, while run-off and soil loss are being measured from comparative plots, improvement in the grass cover is being measured, the run-off from the comparable gullies is being measured, and the live-weight increases of cattle and sheep are being recorded. (b) Waerenga-o-Kuri.—A farm of 998 acres was taken over recently near Gisborne as it was typical of the slipped and gullied mudstone country of the east coast from Wairarapa to Poverty Bay. On this farm the best present-day information will be applied to controlling erosion while the land is being farmed, in order to determine practicability and economic feasibility. To stabilize the hillsides, spaced willow and poplar trees, improved pastures, dominantly cattle and sheep farming, and debris dams will be used, while supplementary feed will be grown to minimize overgrazing. On the experimental area, run-off and soil loss will be measured, soil movement will be recorded, combinations of improved pastures, spaced trees, drainage, debris dams, and grassed waterways will be put under trial to determine the best means of stabilizing eroded hillsides and those liable to erosion. Trials to determine the best cattle/sheep ratio, the best methods of re vegetating slip and flow eroded areas, and the best and cheapest methods of gully control are being established. Control structures to stabilize the head of the main gully have been established, while log, brush, and pole dams with netting have been built lower down in this gully. Careful records of climate, carrying-capacity, costs of all projects, and the overall benefits of conservation practices are being kept and will be made available to all concerned. (c) Tara Hills. —A typically eroded South Island high-country run of approximately 8,000 acres was recently taken over near Omarama. The lower sunny slopes, which comprise the winter country, are severely depleted of vegetation and actively eroding. A recuperative farming programme has been drawn up, sheep have temporarily been reduced to half, spelling and reseeding (natural and artificial) are being undertaken on blocks in rotation, rabbits are being eradicated, and supplementary feed is to be grown under irrigation to reduce the grazing burden on the winter country. On the experimental area the causes of erosion are being investigated, while practical measures of re vegetating the eroded land are put under comparative trial. Run-off and soil loss, and improvement in swards, are being investigated under varying conditions of management. (i(I) Mid Dome. —An area of (800 acres approximately) severely sheet and gully eroded high country that supplies debris to the tributaries of the Oreti River was obtained practically gratis from the owner by the Southland Catchment Board, and the Council is prepared to carry out repair measures and do experimental work on the practical aspects of revegetating the area. Already a botanical survey has been carried out, and marked plots have been photographed and recorded. (e) Adair.—An overcropped, depleted, and eroded cropping farm of 80 acres on the downlands five miles from Timaru has just been acquired with the definite objective of investigating the benefits of contour tillage, strip cropping, and terracing on soil and water conservation, and of comparing them with standard practice under the ruling crop rotations and farm-management of the district. (/) Tangoio.—This reserve was procured by the Highways Board and the Council primarily to stabilize the slopes above and below the highway, owing to the costly maintenance due to frequent slipping. In addition, 400 acres approximately of severed farm land in a badly slipped condition is being treated by spelling, seeding, top-dressing, and space planting. This affords an opportunity in this badly slipped area of obtaining information on a practical scale of the prevention and control of slipping. An additional 25,000 trees were planted last year on steep slopes above the road (half were eucalypts, and the remainder macrocarpa, redwoods, elms, poplars, and willows).

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