GRASSING SAND COUNTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 3

GRASSING SAND COUNTRY

SUITABLE VARIETIES. AN AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. When tbo representatives of district local bodies inspected the sand dune reclamation work of Mr W. H. Field, M.P., at Waikanne, on Saturday, one of the most important subjects discussed was the varieties of grasses which would do best in tho peculiar environ- . nient. showed how on one fairly level plant-covered sand mound cocksfoot had obtained a good footing. This is eminently satisfactory, for cocksfoot is facile princeps the pasture grass of New Zealand. A grass which is proving valuable in sandy localities is prairie grass, especially as a supplementary green food for winter rise, to be utilised in the green cut stage. This is a fodder grass which milk producers in this country will yet come to appreciate. ,-A class of dlover which might be in--7 'traduced with benefit on the sand, dune area, of New Zealand is the burr clover in its various forms. At the present time the United States, Government is ' experimenting on arid regions in California with no less than twenty-five varieties of this ciover. Mr Field has proved that paspalmm can be grown on his sand country, but this is merely a substitute where better grasses will not grow. THE PROBLEM.

In dealing with, sand hill country the problem to he faced is that even if the Tulls can be covered with good herbage the plant covering is so light that the sand is always liable to 'exposure by indiscriminate grazing or accidental breaking away. When once the sand is exposed, it is only a matter of time for the breach to become so great that the hill'may give way to a wandering dune threatening the adjoining . land; unless, that.is, the property is in the hands of an enthusiast like Sir Field, who is always on" the alert to deal with the sand immediately it is exposed. Effective management of such country must necessarily he a somewhat costly matter, thereby reducing its value from a farming view-point. Under the circumstances afforestation is obviously the best use to which the laud can be put.