EARLY PRODUCE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 14

EARLY PRODUCE LAND.

THE FROST-FFIEE BELT.

AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT.

BY PIONEER.

With the rapid growth of the City of Auckland there is developing an ever-in-creasing demand for what might be termed "luxury" lines of produce, in other words, fruits and vegetables which can be placed on sale prior or subsequent to the ordinary commercial crops of those varieties. It is a common saying that early produce pays best. This ha.s been altered of recent years to" only early duce pays." The Auckland fruit and produce market has increased out of 11 recognition in the past five years, and the growers in the outer suburban districts are engaged in an industry which ranks high in importance in the list of occupations.

So rapid, has been the development of the market that the ordinary citizen cannot realise the competition among growers to secure the high prices of the earliest market, nor does he understand what a paragraph in the press, reporting a white frost, has meant to those growers, namely, a loss, running sometimes into big figures, Hitherto neglected or unknown territory, which enjoys complete immunity from frost, is acquiring a new importance, and Auckland possesses such territory within close reach of its markets. Commencing at a point midway along the north lace of the Titirangi Range, developing into a belt, over a mile wide at the top of Shaw's Road, two miles at Exhibition Drive, and then into a great basin several thousand acres in extent, is an area of rich land, where frost is entirely unknown, and that is pre-eminently suited to the culture of especially early produce. The Early Crop. . This land varies from a light, almost brick-red, to a deep chocolate soil, but it is all good. Potatoes three weeks earlier than Pukekohe's earliest, outdoor tomatoes on the market at, the beginning of December, tree tomatoes, which cannot stand frost, growing six and seven feet high in 14 to 16 months, and producing 250 to 350 . fruits per tree, passion vines and lemon trees producing unbelievable crops, these are some of the matters of everyday knowledge in this area. Yet it is a curious fact that very few _ people know anything about the territory which, geographically, might be termed Titirangi West. The Titirangi of the picnic trippers displays little or no evidence of volcanic 'origin, in fact, the major portion of the range is clearly not volcanic, but at the other end of the hills there is mont pronounced indication of volcanic activity, and the belt of rich semi-volcanic soil is there for anyone to see who knows how to look for it. | 1 heard of one man who went to look for this land, and declared he could not | find Equally so, it is possible to travel through the Waikato by rail and see nothing to justify its claim to be the dairy farm of New Zealand. I have spoken of these things in the city and been received with polite incredulity, and yet the facts remain. The amazing thing to me is that it should be be left to an observer to record, now, facts that should have been common knowledge to all Auckland years and years ■ ago. The only metalled way tapping this country is the Exhibition Drive, and that is only metalled for a mile inside the belt, and the metalled portion •of the Drive «is reached _ via Glen • Eden. From the road itself but little idea of the country can be obtained. Turning to the left, a little beyond , Gratia School, the way gradually ascends to the junction of the Titirangi and Waitakere Ranges. It enters the frost free country a little before reaching Fern Tree Bend. A little beyond the bend a high hill shows up to the left of the road, and this hill is a very convenient observation point. View of the Country.

From the summit, the city arid suburbs, the Waitemata Harbour and the islands of the Gulf form an entrancing view. In a straight , line toward Glen Eden appears a red cutting on a low ridge. From that point up the face of the range,' thence sweeping round, and across the top of Shaw's ltoad, seen at the pine belt below, then below the hill and on up the Exhibition Drive, and away across to the dark .bulk of the Waitakere Range,, is the land that could supply Auckland with its early produce. There are other observation points, but this one serves as giving a comprehensive view. The country is gently undulating, very little of it is too steep to permit of cultivation, the bulk of it is not being used, and yet it is capable of producing the very richest harvest, and that within 45 minutes by motor from Queen Street, the hill referred to being 12 miles from the Chief Post Office. »

Well-Sheltered Land. All this country is well-sheltered. It. lies to the north and east, it basks in warmth when cold winds- sweep the city, its soil is rich, and it has never known frost within living memory. It forms a choice field for the suburban dweller, who has" the energy and initiation to make his holding pay for itself, and for his home, but at present it is held in large blocks. Perhaps the Crown might resume the whole of it, and subdivide into two to ten-acre holdings, and people .it with immigrants who are used to intensive cul tivation; perhaps Aucklanders might wake up to the chances, perhaps a land and transport company might develop it, but tho 'and is there, and its possibilities are patent to any practical man who spends a clay or two examining the soil and gaining local knowledge. Soil characteristics observable at Papafcoetoe, Wiri, Manurewa, and Papakura. can be seen iin this territory. There is just as much diversity. After a shower soil and clays -look, in places, like rod paint, in other parts is a deep, almost black, soil.

I can see the time coming when every foot of this territory will be under close cultivation, a:nd when the choice view points will bo the sites of beautiful homes, when there will, be famous orange and lemon groves, and vineyards .here, and when there will be a constant stream, morning and evening, of motor-borne suburban traffic.