RESEARCH ON GRASSLAND

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 14

RESEARCH ON GRASSLAND

NEW SUBSTATION AT KAIKOHE Cabinet approval has been given for the establishment of a grasslands research substation by the department at Kaikphe, Northland, according to a bulletin issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The purpose is to enable the fundamental problems of pasture establishment and utilisation in Northland to be scientifically examined so that the pastoral potential of the province can be developed on a sound basis. “When the Grasslands Division of the department was established at Palmerston North in 1936, it was recognised that the needs of pastoral farming throughout New Zealand could not be met from a. research station in a single centre. Consequently research substations were opened at Lincoln and Gore,” says the bulletin.

“The development potential of Northland now appears greater than that of any other part of the Dominion,” continues the bulletin. “Approximately 40 per cent, of the total occupied area of 3,000,000 acres is unimproved. However, because of the complexity of the soil pattern and the difficulty of utilising certain of the soils, notably the ironstones and sand grasslands, and the particular climatic environment of Northland, the breakingin of new land and the efficient use of developed land are by no means straightforward tasks. There is urgent need for scientific study of these matters. so that the available natural resources can be utilised to the fullwhile at the same time sound foundations are laid for a permanent new | prosperity. The new substation will I be a major step forward in this direc--1 tion.”