WORTH CONSIDERING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4193, 7 June 1939, Page 6

WORTH CONSIDERING

CONTROLLING THE SAND DRIFT. A periodical visitor to Kawhia, Mr C. Davies, from Tauranga, had something to say in respect to the sand drift the other day, that well worth consideration. Mr Davies has no doubt that the sand is encroaching as, between his visits the encroachment is sufficiently in progress for him to notice the results of it upon each occasion of his return * to Kawhia. Conversation turned upon the merits of eastern and western district from the point of view taken by the farmer and grazier. The visitor said that the Tauranga district was, after a period of inertia, certainly making progress and this he held attributable to different causes. Among these rail and road transport facilities were prominent, and more prominent was the discovery and application of fertilisers suitable to the land in his district. Without the application of these, said Mr Davies, Tauranga County would he of little value for either stock raising or general farming. But, he remarked, glancing at the grass-clad hill and down country within view, results are possible in this part, that are certainly good, and seemingly without the heavy fertilising treatment found necessary in our locality. Reference was made to Kawhia’s sand difficulty more particularly with the idea of obtaining suggestions in regard to checking it. Lupins, marram, kakahu grass and the rottnest daisy were mentioned as possible agents to the solution of the problem. When told that the rottnest daisy was reputed to be of rapid growth, Mr Davies hesitated to accept that as sufficient to decide upon sowing it. It may be a weed hard to get rid of and there were doubts as to its value as a forage plant. Marram grass is of course an excellent retaining grass and from the description given, kakahu grass is also good, but they require time to plant extensively and time to grow. Why not sow oats and clovers from the shore and work gradually inland? Clovers seem to grow judging by appearances, and I think it might be a good experiment with a fair prospect of success. Mr Davies stressed the necessity of planting and sowing behind the drift, not ahead of it, as oncoming sand in the latter case simply buries the plants.