TIDAL MUDFLATS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 April 1925, Page 2

TIDAL MUDFLATS

METHOD OF RECLAMATION

Some interesting data regarding the possibility of reclaiming tidal mud flats by means of Spartina grass appeared in tin' „\.Z. Journal of Science and Tech, oology, in a paper by Air H. H. Allen. It is staled mat the botanical name is Spartina Tcnvnshcndii, and that this grass formed great sheets of vegetation on tidal mud Hats along the south coast of England, and also on the coast of Normandy. The plant appears tm ‘in,'innate in the soft mud of tidal estuaries within about one metre, of high water mark. Each plant spreads lalei ally by means of stolons to form a c: mlar or oval naf’li. It is poured cut that with such a plant there may he a possibility of danger to navigation. As a feed for stock. however. Spartina grass has a good recommendation, in that horses, sheep, and cattle eat it with avidity and habitually make their way on to the meadows almost before the tide has run off. It is pointed out in the. article that where, parts of a tidal estuary are hanked off and removed from tidal action by so much is storage space for water diminished; and that amount will he lacking for scour at the ebb. Where such results are likely to accrue Spartina plantations should not ’>)e lightly undertaken. This grass was introduced into New Zealand in 1913 and planted on the Eovtoii mud flats in the tidal estuary of the Maiiawatu River below high, level tide. Hy 1924 the patch had increased, tho. longer narallcl being to the tidal channel. The writer states that where very extensive areas of mud flats occur, as in the Kaipara harbour, and where the navigation problem is m>‘ likely to become important, there would seem to iu l a field for luterciting and important investigations. Ibis grass has been planted on the Envoy salt marshes, and it is stated that; "In addition to being a botanical phenomenon of the first order, perhaps unique in the recorded history of vegetation, the spread of Spartina is raising economic problems which will have to be grappled with sooner or later. Spartina already occupies dozens of square miles of mud Hats in pure stands, which continually get denser and denser. There

semis little r’sk r-f error in assertin< r that in the future this area will expand to hundreds of thousands of miles.”

It is stated that farmers .while speaking well of this grass as a fodder, state tint it gives an undesirable flavour to milk. Another suggestion with regard to this grass is that : t may prove a good raw material for the manufacture of paper.