SOIL SURVEY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 7

SOIL SURVEY

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.

FARM MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE.

The subject of soij. survey was referred to by the chairman of the Ashburton County Council (Mr D. J. Morrow) in his statement at the monthly meeting yesterday. Mr Morrow said:

After) careful scrutiny of the report on the Ashburton'' County soil survey, there appeared to me to be some matters which are not dealt with and which would, if provided, add value to the report. “There is the matter of farm management which we understand is being investigated by Mr Fleming, of Methven, and there is also the matter of farm practice. Without reports on these matters, we cannot obtain full advantage of the data provided by the report of soil survey. The suitability of the various types of soil for the production of certain crops, and the kind and amount of fertilisers which are necessary to make up defieienees in the soil are matters of yital importance.

“I have therefore taken the matter up with the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research requesting that the Government investigate these matters and! prepare*, a report thereon. “The magnitude of the survey of our County for irrigation possibilities is appreciated. We may anticipate the receipt of final reports in the near future, and also, we trust, an announcement by the Government of a decision to undertake the actual work of the construction of irrigation channels.

“We all realise the immense possibilities of irrigation in Canterbury, and if the water can be made available at a reasonable cost, I am certain that our farmers will be keen and anxious to co-operate to the fullest extent.

“In our County, we have excellent systems of water races for stock purposes, and! this water enabled the subdivision of the plains, and closer setn tlement. We have planted extensively for shelter purposes and to attract rainfall, and our climate has thus been improved.

“With water for irrigation purposes, fall information on the variety and suitability of the soil for certain purposes, und also on the proper use of fertilisers, we in Ashburton County can visualise greater* progress and an increased! population, and with it greater prosperity to the people of the district.

“I feel that the Council should cooperate to a greater extent in • all these important investigations and hasten the completion of the reports, especially on farm management and practice, by offering a contribution toward 1 the cost. V’ The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) wrote, in reply to a letter from the Council, that the report on farm management being prepared by Mr Fleming, would! be completed by the end of November. Mr T. Rigg, of the Cawthron Institute was preparing a further report on the plant food status of the County and this should ■he ready in about two weeks. Mr Forbes suggested that the best course for the Council to adopt would be to arrange for a conference between DrGrange, Dr. Weston, Mr Fleming and Mr Beck to discuss their reports and to clarify points that had been raised in them. ' It was agreed that the conference should be held on October 18, and that the chairman be authorised to expend a sum of £25 toward the cost of the survey (and allied work that has been carried tout by Government officers m the County. *