THE BUSH FIRES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 2 April 1908, Page 2

THE BUSH FIRES.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

The bush fires experienced in this island have undoubtedly occasioned considerable loss, especially to dairy farmers, but the cloud has a silver lining to it. Many a rough piece of bush has been thoroughly cleaned out, and land covered with heavy logs which would have cost £5 an acre to clear can now be brought into ■ a, ploughable state for about 25s an acre. Thousands of acres must have been thus greatly improved, a* big asset to, be set against the more temporary losses, r Good areas of clear grazing lands will be available, if not for-this winter at least for next season. The extended grazing will also be a good set off against the drought. And another visitation which has something, to its credit is the drought. At first blush it would ■ appear ridiculous to defend the drought we have experienced; but it is not so absurd if one or two are considered. Take fche nature of our seasons. Our winter, in this part of the Dominion at any rate, is so comparatively mild that our farming lands never get a proper rest-r-and man follows nature's example-until the resting of a pasture has become a novel experience. The continual growth, especially in Taranaki with its usually high rainfall, has a tendency to sour the ground, especially on '■ lands lying away from the sun and iin shaded , hollows. The drought thus serves a useful object in giving the land an enforced rest, drying up all growth -. and baking the land. The benefit of a drought to Southland is well recognised, and it is just as effective in our wet districts in sweetening the soil. . ; We have a heavy slump in wool, the bottom is out of the hemp market, and there is a diminished output of dairy produce, but the rural position, is not as black as it would appear. There are satisfactory conditions which make the future hopeful, and given a favourable winter the primary producer may have yet cause to view the past summer with some degree of satisfaction.—N.Z. Times.