CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 June 1926, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE AIOUNTAIN-SIDE ROAD. (To the Editor.) Sir, —As a student of nature in a small way, and one who has taken a great deal of interest in our native flora, I read with interest the letter in tfie Star on Friday over the pen name of ‘‘Puke Haupapa.” I desire to associate myself with the writer in his protest against the desecration ot our “Alount of Alajesty.” It is hardly necessary for me to add to. what the writer has* said. His views coincide with my sentiments. I would just like to -say" that before the present road was made up to the mountain, and when one had to travel t lire ugh what was, thirty years or so, just a track, the beauty of the bush was a great deal more in evidence than now. By cutting a wide road, the lovely kidney ferns one saw so many of on the route have almost totally disappeared. This is owing to the creation of a draught by the road running through the reserve. These and other tender ferns will not stand exposure to a draught, and soon die off. These beautiful examples of native creation do not appeal to everyone, but to the average student of nature their disappearance is to be deplored. I am, like your correspondent, pleased that the scheme has been turned down. In conclusion, I would like to quote a verse from a poem composed by the Hon W. P. Reeves, ‘‘The Passing of the Forest”: Keen is the axe, tlie forest fire streams ■bright, Clear, beautiful, and fierce it spreads for man The master, set to change and stern to smite, Bionzed pioneer of nations! Ay, but scan The ruined wonder wasted in a night, The ravaged beauty God alone can plan, And builds not iwice! A bitter price to pay Is this for progress—beauty swept away! —I am, etc., HORI. Hawera, June 18.

AIAKING OF ENSILAGE. (To the Editor.) . .'Sir, —In your farm section of June 5 was an article from a Palmerston North paper giving some person’s impressions of Taranaki; but I am sure I die not know where he. got his ideas of ensilage, as the idea of making two stacks in a 10-aere paddock when they could) analcei one is a foolish, idea, as the bigger the stack the less waste. To show I am right, I know three of our best farmers who this year made ensilage of their first two cuts of lucerne, and in each case: they stripped the earth off the first stack and.'put the. second lot on, and then put- earth on again, thus making the stack that much higher. But the amount of three feet of earth! I have, in nearly forty years of ensilage-making, never seen abovei 18 inehes in tire centre, of the stack, and. I have come to the conclusion that one foot is ample, but mostly nine inches is looked: on as enough. The idea to me is wrong of waiting every other day for the stack to sink a little. Provided the stack does n.ot got too high, you cannot put it in too fast. If it is. Started on a Friday or Saurday, and let stand till Monday, that will start all the heat required. The great cause of bad ensilage is stuff too dry. ' Keep half an hour in front with the. mower, but never more than two hours if the day is hot. , Very little good ensilage can he made after Christmas unless with a great deal of clover or thistles. These may do till the New .Year. But the, maker of ensilage always wants to bear in mind the bigger and higher the stack the better. Some pepole think ensilage dearer than lxay, but .seeing that the feeding value, compared with hay, is 1 acre of ensilage equal to 2-J acres of hay, or a little more, there is not a great deal of difference. And with ensilage there, is- no worry about- the weather and never any trouble at calving; hut, at the 'same time, a bit of hay for cows after calving is very useful. —I am, etc., OLD FARAIEE. Manaia.