BAY OF PLENTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 3

BAY OF PLENTY

RICH FARM LANDS SCOPE FOR DEVELOPMENT IMPROVING PUMICE SOIL [ "The Bay of Plenty is unsurpassed in climate, rainfall and farming possibilities," said Mr. A. Y. Montgomery, of Auckland, in a lecture on tho Bay of Plenty district from IYA recently. "The land in the area has richly fulfilled the potentialities of the name given it by Captain Cook." "The richest lands of the Bay of Plenty district consist of the low hills of the Katikati and Tauranga areas, the drained swamplands, such aa the Waihi swamp at To Puke, and the Rangataiki swamp between Matata and Whakatane, and the rieli river flats such as occur in the Opouriao Valley, the Waimana Valley, and the Opotiki Valley," said Mr. Montgomery. "The development of these lands has been along similar lines to those followed in other parts of New Zealand. Tho chief grass used has been perennial ryegrass, which has been obtained from Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay. Thus the ryegrass pastures of the best lands in the Bay are particularly high yielding. "The draining of swamp lands has been an important factor in the successful development of the area. Near Te Puke, the rich Waihi swamp, consisting of 12,000 acres, has all been drained and grassed. This area was an important flax-producing centre a few years ago. Draining Rangataiki Plains "The Rangataiki swamp occupies roughly a triangle of land lying between Matata on the north 3 Te Teko on the west, and Whakatane on the south. In 1912, the greater portion of this block of approximately 100,000 acres was under water, due to the overflowing of the Rangataiki and Tarawera Rivers. Under the provisions of the Rangataiki Land Drainage Act of 1910, a straight course was cut for the Rangataiki River, and it now flows out through a cut in the sandhills. The drainage of the Tarawera River, the Awaiti-Paku Stream, and the Whakatane River, have all been improved by shortening their courses with modern dredges. In 1915 there were 55 miles of main drains, and since that time the running of the lateral drains has been more or less completed. The land is rich alluvial swamp with some peaty soils in places. The grass, paspalum dilatatum, had played an important part in the bringing in of the Bay of Plenty swamp lands, continued Mr. Montgomery. The grass thrived under the warm, moist conditions of such areas as the Rangitaiki swamp, and it had played a most important part in stabilising the surface soil. Not only had paspalum helped to carry tho stock which had consolidated the swamps, but also it had been of immense value where overdraining had occurred. Rich Swamp Lands Tho drained swamp lands of the Bay of Plenty were among the richest in New Zealand, and the stock-carrying capacity was particularly high owing to the warm climate, which gave peak production for about three months of the year. Farmers in the area had the usual spring flush of rye, cocksfoot and clover, and this was followed by an equally good summer and autumn flush of paspalum and clover.

Early calving was becoming more popular, said the speaker. He had recently visited a farm at Otakiri which is producing all the year round. A portion of the herd was calved in the autumn, and these cows were fed during the winter, chiefly on ryegrass pastures which had been top-dressed with ammoniated superphosphate. There could be no doubt that Bay of Plenty dairy farmers had an unrivalled opportunity for so spreading butter-fat production that they could produce a uniform supply of fresh butter in every month of the year. Future Prospects "Tlio development of the naturally rich lands whicll lie close in to the bay has made the area one of the most prosperous fanning districts in New Zealand," continued Mr. Montgomery. "Nevertheless, a great deal of the future of tho area depends on the successful development of some of the poorest soils in the Dominion, pumice lands which form much of tho back country of tho Bay of Plenty. These were at one time looked upon as being extremely poor, with no farming future, and suitable only for tree planting." Such land, however, had been shown to bo capable of raising good crops, of red clover and turnips, although the chances of obtaining a good permanent sward of high producing grasses and clover were uncertain until tho introduction of tho certification of perennial ryegrass and other pasture plants by tho New Zealand Government in 1929, ho proceeded. Since it had become known that ryegrass, white clover and other pasture plants would be permanent, so long as they were given the right conditions, the development of pumice lands had taken on a new aspect. Meeting Deficiencies The soil lacked water-holding capacity, and consolidation was of first importance in obtaining suitable seedbed conditions for pasture plants. Lack of phosphate was made up by top-dress-ing with phosphate fertilisers, and particularly with superphosphate, and nitrogen deficiency was made up chiefly by tho growth of white clover. Pastures of perennial rye, cocksfoot, dogstail and whito clover improved rapidly when t hey were top-dressed and stocked heavily, the heavy stocking consolidating the soil and improving the water-holding capacity. Once pasture was well established, nitrogenous fertilisers could be used to advantage in autumn and winter in order to produce crops of grass for feeding when the cows first calved in the early spring. The uso of such nitrogenous fertilisers is j>articularly important in the pumice areas of the central plateau, owing to the long cold winters and tho lack of growth in the early spring. It had been shown that by sowing, certified seeds of true perenniality, the proper use of fertilisers, tho use of well-tested stock and careful management, yields of 1501b. to 2001b. of .butter-fat an acre could be obtained from land which, years ago, carried about ouo brumby horse to the square mile.