Taumarunui Club’s Field Day.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 3, 20 March 1939, Page 277

Taumarunui Club’s Field Day.

J. M. HOPKINS,

District Secretary, Taumarunui

THE Taumarunui Club held its first field-day on Saturday, 21st January, when members visited and were shown over the Native landdevelopment scheme at Taumarunui. The administrative centre for this project is at Ngapuke, in the " Pungapunga Valley, through which runs the new Taumarunui-Tokaanu Road. Because of the wet weather experienced during the previous weeks some members were unable to attend, being busy with hay crops. However, those who did considered the trip was worth while, and an interesting and instructive day was spent. Members travelled in their own cars to Ngapuke, where Mr. A. G. Ferris, the Supervisor, and the Overseer were met. Before setting out on a tour of the scheme Mr. Ferris explained what had been accomplished in the development so far, and outlined future developments and the method of bringing each particular type of country into production. Very little flat land exists on the whole area, and most of the country is in cut-over bush. Some small areas of manuka scrub do exist, and these are confined to pumice flats and terraces along the Pungapunga Stream and the Wanganui River. The total area of Native land in this particular locality is

21,000 acres, and no doubt all this land will be brought into production in time. Pastures Improved. Some of the flats and terraces of manuka scrub have been sown in pasture after felling and burning the scrub, or they have been sown in swede crops after the first ploughing. Along the lower portion of the Pungapunga Stream some of the country was in worn-out pasture, with much blackberry and ragwort infestation. With top - dressing, oversowing, and stocking with sheep and cattle after cutting and burning the blackberry and ragwort, these pastures have been improved considerably and are at present showing quite an appreciable amount of white clover and rye-grass. The amount of top-dressing done so far is small, but this autumn a fairly extensive programme is planned. All the land at present in pasture on the settlement is stocked with sheep and cattle, and a considerable number of goats are kept to control the blackberry growth. An additional five hundred goats were purchased recently and are doing good work in keeping down this troublesome weed. ; During the tour of the settlement stops were made at points of interest and the particular phase of work in the development explained by the Supervisor or the

Overseer. Several pastures of both temporary and permanent natures were inspected, and general discussions took place as to the merits of the different grasses and clovers and the methods of establishment and general maintenance. Field of Swedes. Finally, a 70 acre field of swedes was inspected on the Wanganui River side of the scheme. This block is to be made into a single unit as a dairy-farm. As the breaks of swedes become fed off the permanent fences will be erected, the eaten-out areas disked and harrowed and worked into a suitable seed-bed, and permanent pasture sown. While on this block an opportunity was taken to inspect the Kaitieke Dairy Co.’s pig layout in the adjourning field, where an electric fence is used to confine the pigs. At the time of the visit the power for this unit was shut off, but the pigs were making no attempt to go near the fence. Mr. Ferris and his assistant were thanked for the interesting tour of the settlement and for the efficient manner in which they had explained the different work in progress. It is to be hoped at some future date, when development is more advanced, that a further field-day will be held on the settlement.