CHECKING THE FLAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 12

CHECKING THE FLAMES

MEASURES INADEQUATE i. ' « BENEFIT FROM ADVERSITY THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] HAMILTON", Friday A pall of smoke hanging over the countryside testifies to tho extensive peat fires raging in the Waikato, but tho proximity of these fires to the main highway, as in tho Te Rapa district, just north of Hamilton, is much more likely to impress travellers on tho Groat South Road with the seriousness of tho position. At To Rapa, at least 100 acres of burning peatland, lately supporting cattle and sheep, can bo seen from tho road. The charred and smouldering tree stumps exposed by the burned peat illustrate clearly how the fire is carried to a considerable depth below the surface, thero to smoulder for an indefinite period. In this and other areas some slight but totally inadequate steps are being taken to arrest the advance of the fires. Trenches are boing dug to varying depths, generally a foot, or at most two, and in some instances, where it is available, these are being filled with sand. In other instances attempts to save grassland—at this time covered with dry, inflammable forago—aro being made by ploughing a number of furrows across the path of tho approaching fire. Ploughing Ineffective Owing to the dry condition of the peat for some feet below the surface, ploughing has proved totally ineffective as a fire-break, tho furrows burning readily and even fiercely, and, by their exposure of loose peat to the air and fire, really acting as a medium for introducing the fire to tho peat over an extensive front. Whil© sand, if kept reguarly tamped to exclude the air from tho fire easing its way under the trench, appears to be useful where the peat is well consolidated, it is probable that it would be much more effective in arresting the fire were coarse salt, sucn as the refuse from freezing works and casings factories, mixed with it. Salt has a very dampening effect on slow fires, and also haa the capacity of attracting and holding considerable moisture. Thus any rain which fell, such as that experienced in the Waikato last night, would bo doubly effective in arresting the further spread of tho fires. There are one or two features of these firos which, were labour available, might be taken advantage of to materially aid the district in. exterminating pest*, which a,t present levy a heavy toll on production. Throughout the Tauhei and some other districts visited during the past two days, thousands 'of rabbits were seen which have been burned out of their strongholds in the manuka and rubbish-covered areas. These are now in the open, without burrows for protection. Organised Effort Needed Loth to leave the localities they know, they are now around the edges of the burned areas in considerable numbers, and are apparently short of both water and feed. An energetic poisoning campaign undertaken now would undoubtedly greatly reduce the numbers of these pests. The farmers at present fighting the fires have no time available for such work, but it might be supposed that, if well organised, unemployed and other available labour might profitably be utilised hero. It is undoubted that, under existing conditions, the rabbits would take the baits freely, and an almost complete riddance of these pests could be now secured in these areas.

Looking a little further into the future, one can see possibilities of considerable benefits from these fires, should the opportunities which offer not be missed. The eradication of manuka and other weeds from considerable areas of what has been, ,pp to the "present, utterly waste land, offers the opportunity of introducing superior plant growth having a fodder .valud ar\d of establishing some form of rough pasture, which would choke out and prevent the re-establishment of rubbish. Such fodder plants as pampas grass, sheep's burnet, trpe lucerne and even blue lupin might be sown on the poorest areas. More hopeful material might well warrant sowing down with such deeprooted grasses and clovers as cocksfoot., timothy, paspalum, lotus major, red clover and pogsibl.y subterranean clover. If some such steps to reclaim thiß land from noxious rubbish are not taken at the propitious moment, it will undoubtedly revert to a waste, where manuka, blackberry, ragwort and rabbits will find a haven for propagation. In connection with pampas grass, which has.been so successfully established and employed by at least one Hauraki Plains settler as a fodder for dairy cattle, this might be usefully employed for a like purpose when the farm areas now devastated by fire are being rehabilitated. Appreciated by Cattle

There is no question that dairy cattle appreciate and thrive on this giant grass, which in many respects resembles the well-known toi-toi. If the pampas is planted in belts some four or five rows in width it can be fenced off into small breaks and, besides providing first-class shelter, is a valuable fodder stand-by in such seasons as the present.

On the peat lands referred to it has the particular merit that its deep roots tap the constant supplies of moisture in the underlying clayey subsoil, and thus it makes phenomenal growth in even the driest seasons. Further, from these lower levels it extracts and embodies in its leaves minerals which are usually lacking in the overlying peaty soil, and these greatly benefit the stock in bealth.

It appears obvious tha£ considerable expenditure will be necessary, and should certainly be warranted, in closely subdividing the burned areas of better quality farm lands before these are regrassed. Such subdivision would allow of heavy stocking over short periods, which will be necessary to consolidate the surface and so make the newly-sown pastures permanent. If this consolidation is neglected nothing is more certain than that taprooted weeds and scrub will invade the areas, invoking expenditure and loss of production over many years. The extent of the fires and the great possibility of securing considerable ultimate benefit from the present misfortunes of the sdttlers, should warwant a well-thoifght-out nnu comprehensive policy being put in hand now by the Government, or other responsible authority.