BULLER PAKIHIS

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1936, Page 3

BULLER PAKIHIS

SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION. WELLINGTON. October IS. A great forward move in the reclamation of pakihi land at Westport is claimed in the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Impressed by the successful pasture establishment an 25 acres by the Cawthron Institute at Sergeant's Hill, the Unemployment Board and the Lands Department agreed to facilitate lhe reclamation of a block of 210 acres of pakihi laud known as the ‘Buller Domain, and this, it is claimed, has been sueeesslullv carried' out. The 25-acre block sown : n 1932-33 has continued to g've very satisfactory results, the report states. It has been grazed with young slock and has proved itself capable of 'tarrying 14 head of young slock tor the whole year. Some of the beasts took prizes in the Westport Show Last season the- area was not grazed so hard, U tons of hay being harvested. in addition to the graz ng of ten head of voung stock throughout the vear. When the reclamation of the Buller Domain was undertaken unemployed labour was used to the fullest possible extent. About 300 chain* of open ditches were dug and stream courses were straightened to allow rapid drainage of surface, water. The 'iming of the block involved the distribution of more than 240 tons of ground limestone, and this was done almost entirely bv hand operation, and the cutting of the ti-tree where and the cutting of the tea-tree where it was not required for shelter, the sowing of n grass and clover mixture was started about the end of February. Germination was delayed by dry weather, but a fair strike was obtained over the greater part of the area. During the winter sheltei trees and shrubs will be planted, and grazing wiR be begun in ‘he n ai!y summer.