USE OF PUMICE LAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 6

USE OF PUMICE LAND

THE ONEPU SETTLEMENT Sneaking of farming improvements in the Whakatane district, Mr Woodyear Smith, formerly of the Agricultural Department, said he was very favorably impressed with the progress at the Onepu settlement. Kemarkable results had been obtained from the development of pumice areas in the central part of the North Island, but nowhere had they been more outstanding and successful than in the district about To Toko and Onepu. This country, which was covered with Tarawera ash, was wonderfully healthy, and the short time in which pastures could be established successfully served as an indication of what could be done with

this class of land. A remarkable feature was the ease with which lucerne could be grown, Mr Smith said. Ho referred to one case in which, in less than 12 months, there had been established from scrub a first-class stand of lucerne, which would do justice to the first-year establishment of this crop in expensive alluvial areas. One very noticeable feature of this portion of the Bay of Plenty was the excellent development of stock carried. They had produced good bone and, as the country never became waterlogged in the colder months of the year, the stock could lie down in comfort.