THE EAR NORTH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15135, 1 February 1917, Page 5

THE EAR NORTH.

DISTRIBUTION OF SOILS.

To describe the distribution of the varying kinds of soils to be found in the North Auckland Peninsula is a difficult matter, for tfiev are so mixed up cni with another. Speaking roughly, however, it can be said that the clay soils predominate, being in fact the “staple” soil, with land of other character interspersed. The clays vary very largely, from good loamy stuff to the poorest pipeclay. It is on the latter, particularly on the higher levels; that, lotus anguslissimus Is so valuable, and competent judges affirm that when broken in even the poorest of the pipeclay soils can be turned into one-sheep to one ai)d a half-sheep country. The Kerikeri-Plains, near the Bay of Islands, the Kawakawa -Hiku-' rangi stretch, south of the Bay, eu 1 the stretch of country between Auckland and Warkworth, on the East Coast, are perhaps the largest areas of this class of soil, but there are numberless patches of it all over the peninsula. especially on the higher lands, the lower hills being mostly of a setter class, and capable of carrying from one and a half to two and a half sheep pero acre. On these lower lands, esoecially in damp and swampy situations. the lotus major flourishes most luxuriantly-

The swamp lands of the peninsula comprise a considerable area, end ; re of extraordinary riclmc«*. many of them, when drained and broken in, carrying a cow to the neve, all the year round. The_ Uiknrangi -.wamp, near Whangarei, is 3(1 000 acres in extent, and when properly drained will be a gold mine to the owners. At Runkaka. south of Whangarei, there is another large swamp area, some of it already being made productive. There is another huge, swamp area near Kaitaia, in the extreme north, whose fertility makes it suitable for the closest settlement, while the swamp lands, both reclaimed and unreclaimed, of the Kaipara disrict, north and south,, are equally good. Besides .these, swamps large and small are constantly met with, all of which are drainable. The alluvial areas, which. often border the swamps, being in many cases old swamps reclaimed by nature, generally follow the latter in their equally as rich. The Mangakahif), Valiev, between the Bav of Islands district and Dargaville, the Northern Wairoa district, the Awanui district near TCnitaia, ■ and the Mangamuka and' Waihou valleys at Fokianga, are' notable instances of rich alluvial areas,

There are some fine areas of volcanic land to he met; with. The greater part of the Wharig'arei' district is of this nature, and is wonderfully fertile, and another equally good niece of volcanic country surrounds Kaikohe, in .he Bav of Islands County, The. above will give a rough idea of distribution pf the North Auckland soils, but, as already said, soils pf all classes • are much mixed up through the whole length and breadth of the peninsula, it being a frequent occurrence to find four or five, within the compass of a square mile. As to the contour of the country, there is remarkably ■ litth* land that could be called*iteep. The swamps and alluvials are of course flat, and of thd remainder it is probably well within ,the mark'to say that more than threefourths is easily ploughable. The best land is found on 'the West .Const, where are to be found many excellent mixed pastures. , The Eastern slope is of much poorer quality, but tbere is scarcely an acre, that will not grow something. * Much that is unsuitable for grazing is nevertheless good fruit land, while the eovnarativeIv few examples of steep hillsides could well be used for afforestation.