KING COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23047, 26 May 1938, Page 16

KING COUNTRY

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT area near taumarunui CLOSER SETTLEMENT NEEDED APPLYING OF MODERN METHODS ' ' ; No. IV. BV H.B.T. Travellers through the King Country can gain but a very incomplete idea of the scope of good land awaiting development, or but partially developed in the area of which Taumarunui is the natural business centre. The counti} lying between this town and the coast, a distance of approximately 40 miles in a direct line, is best known, and though this embraces much excellent, health} farming country of papa and limestone formation, those who have seen it from the disadvantageous viewpoint of a, motor-car only, are prone to condemn it generally on account of tho adniixturo of sandstone country. It is, however, from the land lying to the north-east and east, that Tau-marunui-is most likely to draw increasing wealth in the future. Already a highway linking this rail centre with Tokaanu, and tapping an extensive area of potentially high

producing land, is well under vra 7* work on its construction being pushed on by big gangs from both ends. 1 his will give access to some of the finest timber areas now remaining in thtf North Island, and at the same time will make possible the settlement of a big area of volcanic, rolling land lying between the western shore of Lake Taupo and the Hauhangaroa range.

Stock Fattening Country In the vicinity of Tokaanu itself there is <• also a considerable area, at present partially farmed by native and European owners, particularly adapted to both dairying and stock fattening. "With the opening of this road, which is being bridged and metalled as construction proceeds, aai increasing ajnount of produce and livestock should find its way by this short and direct route to Taumarunui, and thence to the port cities. . In a north-easterly direction from Taumarunui also, up the Taringamutu Valley to the foothills on the western side of the range, there is vast scope for closer settlement of the rolling volcanic country and fertile hills. In recent years successful methods of bringing this type of country into permanent pasture have been developed, and it is no gamble, as in days gone by, for the State or,-private enterprise to develop, subdivide and settle such an area with producers who cannot fail to succeed. Particularly at the top end of the Taringamutu Valley there is a large area of excellent, rolling land, from which the timber has been cut, and which, although fenced and grassed on the removal of the forest, has since had little done to improve it or bring it to maximum production. A few wellfarmed small areas in this district demonstrate what could be done to adjoining thousands of acres which are crying for development. Pastoral Country

Most of this country is definitely better suited to sheep and run cattle than to dairy farming. The former thrive, and even where heavy stocking is practised, have a "bloom" at this season, indicating that the environment .suits them,: With sheep and run cattle, which can be closely held on country which it is desired to crush in growthy seasons, secondary growth, and ragwort, can be easily controlled. Dairy cattle, which must receive gentler treatment, are not capable of preventing this reversion. > It seems obvious, therefore, that in the future closer settlement of this and similar country, the holdings should be sufficiently large to permit of sheep farming being carried on. A large part of this extensive area can easily be ploughed, and as this flat and rolling country is of higher quality, generally, than the hills, this is a coni siderable advantage when bringing it into permanent pasture. Where the land can be cultivated a preliminary crop of red clover, which thrives extraordinarily and makes a great bulk of fodder on this type of soil, can be utilised to introduce nitrogen and humus to the soil —which in its natural state lacks these—and can subsequently be fed out as ensilage or hay on the land from which it was grown. This further enriches and consolidates the. soil with the animals' manure and trampling, and permits of the establishment of permanent pasture species which thrive for several years with comparatively little subsequent top-dressing. Root crops, also, can be successfully grown in this country, and although, in the writer's opinion, not offering such advantages as a preliminary crop as does red clover, can be profitably used to prepare the land for permanent . grasses.

Ragwort Problem On the heavier and richer alluvial flats bordering this *nd other rivers and streams in the district, the conditions for dairy farming are good. The only difficulty involved in this class of farming in the areas under review, is the intrusion of ragwort in the looser and more open soils, and of ring-fern on th 6 standstone country. Where it is possible to carry sheep as well as dairy cows, the ragwort might be controlled by them, but unless research at present being conducted to find means of controlling or eradicating this weed is successful dairy farming on ragwort infested country is always likely to be a dangerous and unprofitable business. Ring-fern, which is looked upon as the worst of the secondary growths which spreads on sandstone country after it has been brought into pasture, will sooner or later be controlled by methods now being experimented with. The most promising of these is the application of heavy dressings of salt, which both depresses the growth of weeds similar to this, and attracts the stock to closely graze and thus trample the ground where new growth is coming up. Modern Methods Needed But difficult as these problems of secondary growth and noxious weed control may appear to settlers thwarted in their efforts by the present high cost and difficulty of securing labour and material to carry on their work of improvement, experience has proved that a remedy is usually ultimately evolved. In th"e case of ragwort it may be that some antidote, which could be incorporated in a stock-lick or drench, will be discovered for the toxic drug which now makes the plant so dangerous to livestock. If research in this direction was successful one of the chief factor* in delaying the progress and popularity of the King Country would be removed and the prosperity of this large area assured. The King Country, at the present is a place where young men with energy and progressive ideas are needed, and where there is probably a better .opening than in most parts of the North * Island. ' The land can be procured at a reason- > able figure estimated on its carrying capacity; access is good to most districts, 'and with the application of modern fanning methods the land is likely i to show steady improvement in quality and