WEALTH FROM THE SOIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 13

WEALTH FROM THE SOIL

HAURAKI PLAINS PROGRESS.

THE BENEFITS OF DRAINAGE.

YEAR'S PRODUCE WORTH £575,000

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

KEREPEEHI, Sunday

Groat progress has been made on the Hauraki Plains with the advent of drainage. Twenty years ago the plains were undrained raupo swamp. Parts were covered with water over which boats were rowed by sportsmen in search of game. Last year, as a direct result of the work of the Drainage Department, allied with the efforts of the settlers, they produced exportable produce estimated to be worth £575,000. The annual report of the Drainage Department for this area states that thci weather has been exceptionally favourable for good progress with the development works, and a survey of the year's activities shows a satisfactory volume of construction. . The settlers on the reclaimed swamp have experienced a profitable year. The copious rainfall in September and October retarded the spring growth on the alluvial grass land, and consequently there was not the usual abundance of feed.

Value of Output,

Conditions were more favourable for tho peat lands, and generally the returns from tho good peat sections were very satisfactory. Figures quoted to indicate the benefit from the department's operations, with the previous year's returns in in parentheses, are:—Butter produced, 2405 tons (2300 tons); value, £407,000; cheese produced, 13<51 tons (1296 tons); value, £83,000; fibre and tow, 1000 tons (1200 tons); value, £24,000; estimated value of stock sold, £61,100; total, £575,100. An important event in the history of the plains was tho handing over during tho year of tho control of the drainage works completed by the department to two newly-formed drainage boards. There are now five drainage boards operating in tho original Hauraki Plains area, and the Government is assisting financially and by active construction. The area which is still liable to rates under the rating clauses of the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926, will be still further reduced during 1930, when the Elstow Drainage Board will take over the control and maintenance of works constructed by tho department in the greater part of the Awaiti Basin.

Seduction of Valuation.

Generally speaking the area liable for rates is the lowest valued portion of the plains, and the values of this portion will be reduced considerably when the county is revalued in the immediate future.

The report states that the poaching by stock—that is, trampling and consolidating to the detriment of sub-soil drainage—of the heavier country in the northern portion' of the plains, occurs every year unless an unusually dry winter and spring is experienced. As a result the grasses are practically ruined and displaced by pennyroyal and buttercup. This disability reduces the returns from the area. Various remedies have been suggested, but no simple solution of the difficulty has been evolved. Drainage alone is not the solution. .. - The removal of the stock from the farms during winter has been suggested, but there are difficulties in doing this with dairy cows. Last year mention was made of the proposal to bouse and handfeed the stock for some months, but no reliable data are available of this experiment, which has only been carried out on a small scale.

Paspalum is becoming quite common in portions of the area, and if this grass becomes well established the poaching should be reduced, as this grass provides a solid mat, which is better able to support the weight of the cattle. Tall fescue is making its appearance in portions of the plains, where it was not previously noticed. The Department of Agriculture intended to carry out eradication experiments with the mole plough, but these were postponed. The intention is, however, to conduct them next year.