666 Journal op the Department oi^ Agriculture. 



The rank growth * is doubtless due to the high nitrogen content and 

 the abundant supply of underground water. It may here be 

 mentioned that this type of soil is first and foremost a wheat soil, 

 Bietti being the best variety to sow. Eooi Lama (the local name, 

 apparently, for a mucb sown wheat) also does well on this type of 

 soil, but Egyptian Red, also a variety frequently sown in tlie Witkop 

 district, grows rank and gets laid. 



Beyond skilful cultivation, it would appear that this soil requires 

 no other treatment; it still yields very good crops after many years 

 of cultivation. According to the farmer's classification this soil 

 belongs to the black turf class. 



Plate\Vl. The Homestead "The Willows." 



The trees without leaves are poplars ; the willows are hidden by the house. The 

 hedge is of the macrocarpa cypress. Pines of several varieties have been planted 

 here and are doing splendidly ; they are 8 years old, at least 15-18 feet high, and 

 their trunks about 10 inches in diameter. 



Lemofn Kkaal : Mes. i)k Klekk. 



The homestead of Lemoen Eraal lies almost direct north of The 

 Willows homestead. Only one sample Avas taken fiom this farm, i.e. 

 No. 611. The geologicarmap (p. 353) will show that the bult from 

 which this sample was derived is far removed from any influence by 

 dolerite or by lava. It would therefore seem tliat it may be taken as 

 representing a true Red Beds soil. 



The soil is decidedly sandy and, moreover, very poor; it yields 

 not more than ten from one in the case of wheat and six from one in 

 the case of potatoes. Some peas were growing on tlie land at the time 

 it was sampled; they were very vmhealtby in appearaiice and their 

 loots bore no nodules. 



See remarks under Nitrogen, page J 36. 



