Corse Eradication On Volcanic Land

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1947, Page 4

Corse Eradication On Volcanic Land

An extremely efficient method of eradicating gorse on volcanic land strewn with large stones and boulders is being employed at Mr C. P. Butler’s small farm near Kamo where a heavy bulldozer is accomplishing a task which many farmers would consider impossible. The presence of stones and boulders weighing anything up to five tons has rendered impracticable the use of a swamp plough or discs. However, owing to the light nature of the soil, the bulldozer has made short work of a difficult job. Some of the big bushes measured more than 6in. across at the base, but notwithstanding the size of the roots, they were torn out of the soil. In one hour the machine accomplished at least two days’ work for two men.

Such methods of gorse eradication could not be employed on a number of other Northland soil types. Heavy loams and clays would not yield sufficiently to allow the gorse to be pulled out. The bushes would probably break off, leaving the roots firmly embedded. WITH BAR FITTED A popular way'of clearing'gorse on flatter country, is the use of a tractor and giant discs. A heavy bar fitted on to the front of the tractor is an added advantage. When the tractor is driven over the gorse, the bar forces the standing growth down and the tractor crushes it. The gorse is further flattened by the' heavy discs, which are set with a heavy cut and, having scallops, pull out much of the gorse by the roots. This method can handle heavy stands of gorse although, in some cases, it is necessary to go over the area more than once in which event the machine would have to be driven in the same direction as before. TURNIP CROP

About six weeks after an area has been completed it is burned. The land is then disced twice and a fairly good seed bed is formed. A heavy chain harrow is then used to break the soil down again. An article on this subject in the August issue of the Journal of Agriculture, suggests that a turnip crop should then be planted. The turnips should be grazed by sheep which also eat off seedling gorse which might appear. According to the type of soil, a further crop such as chou moellier can be grown and eaten off with heavy concentrations of sheep.

A permanent pasture can then be sown, using certified ryegrass and certified white and subterranean clover.