BREAKING IN LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 15

BREAKING IN LAND.

A STRIKING EXAMPLE.

USE OF MACHINERY.

COST UNDER £4 AN ACRE.

A strong argument for the systematic breaking-in of virgin land by tractor power was presented to the executive of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League yesterday by Mr. W. A. Clinton, a practical farmer. He described in detail how he and others had recently converted a block of land near Te Awamutu to pasture at a cost, including fencing, of £3 18s lOd an acre. Mr. Clinton said the land was open, semi-volcanic country of average quality, growing fern and tutu. One block of 110 acres gave interesting results. The scrub was first burned as it stood and then dealt with by the use of a tractor dragging tandem discs, about 20 acres a day being done. The land was gone over twice in this way, which meant four cuts with the discs. Following the discing heavy "tiger " harrows, weighing about three-quarters of a ton, were used. By this time the working had pulled most of the standing timber out, leaving the country in condition for broadcasting manure and seed. Details ol the Cost. Three hundredweight of fertiliser and 361b. of mixed grass and clover were used per acre, and behind the broadcaster manuka was drawn as a brush harrow. Out of the whole 110 acres 87 were done with the tractor as described. The balance of the area had to be handled, owing to its steep nature, with horses, and the manure and seed were broadcast by hand. The whole of the 400 acres was commenced in October and by March the area was in grass. In subdividing the 110 acres the fences had been placed so that stock could be crowded on the area as desired. This was to meet the trouble of growing fern, which, in these parts of the country, must be specially provided for. The cost of breaking-in the 110 acres worked out at £3 18s lOd an acre. This included the following items, among others:—Wages at £3 a week and keep of a man to chop out heavy growth in places not accessible to the tractor; fuel at Is a gallon; allowance for depreciation of machinery and 8 per c3nt. on its capital cost; and erection of seven-wire sheep-proof fencing for eight paddocks. Mr. Clinton emphasised the need in such an undertaking of pushing on with the work when it had been begun. This, he said, was of the utmost importance. Native Department's Efforts. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, and members of the executive, thanked Mr. Clinton for the information, which they considered to be of value as a concrete example of developmental work at low cost. Discussing the matter after the meeting, Mr. Clinton said he had lately inspected the work being done by the Native Department, at the instigation of Sir Apirana Ngata, in breaking in gum land at Waiukn for occupation by Maori settlers. Full use wag being made of tractors and other modern machinery. So far 282 acres had been put down in grass at a cost £5 9s an acre. Allowing for work required later to control blackberry, he estimated the final development cost at £6. At this figure it was a very good proposition. " The Native Department is dealing wifh two blocks near Waiuku, one at Horahora and one at Waimihia," said Mr. Clinton. " The Maori is showing us a lead and doing what the Lands Department ought to have done years ago. In the light of this and my own farming experience I am absolutely convinced that the way to bring most land into pasture is to employ labour and machinery, do the job thoroughly without delay, and then turn the land over to selected settlers. This will yield a quicker return than can ever be obtained by putting a man on virgin land and leaving him to work out his own salvation. It will also give the country something to offer the young man with little capital, but with energy, ambition and farming experience, who wants a farm of his own. What chance has he of getting one todav ?

"Settlers placed on improved farms of this sort would be on their mettle, and could fairly be required to accept a certain amount' of expert guidance. Such settlement of Crown land would do much to bring land values down to their proper level."