In this 1907 painting by Gottfried Lindauer, men are using kō (digging sticks) to prepare the soil for planting. As horticulturists, Māori were well aware of the different soils in which their main crop, kūmara (sweet potato), would flourish. They improved heavy soils by adding gravel and sand.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki
Oil painting by Gottfried Lindauer
Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou