SOIL EXHAUSTION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 10

SOIL EXHAUSTION

Need For Conserving Forests A WORLD-WIDE PROBLEM The seriousness of soil exhaustion and erosion in many parts of the world and the need for conserving forest, as well as planting trees, was stressed by Mrs. Knox Gilmer, president of the Wellington Horticultural Society, during the course of her remarks in opening the society’s midsummer show yesterday. “This is a problem that is providing food for thought among the thinking people of the world to-day,” said Mrs. Gilmer. On the five continents there was so much erosion taking place that already schemes were being undertaken to combat this menace, which would undoubtedlyalead to a food shortage. They had evidence of how a similar problem must have affected past civilisations. Buried cities were being discovered showing almost complete loss of fertilisation in the soil. A similar problem faced modern civilisation. The distinguished South African statesman, General Smuts, had remarked that soil erosion had overshadowed in urgency all complex political problems facing that country at the present time. Au:|ralia was conscious of the danger due to overgrazing, and the movement of soil. Soil movement was the cause of California’s dust storms. In Europe and Asia similar problems‘confronted the people, and the minds of all thinking persons were being truly exercised today as to the grave dangers liable to follow. In New Zealand, said Mrs. Gilmer, the livelihood of the nation depended on the fertility of the soil. “What are we doing to prevent soil exhaustion and erosion?” It was a well-known fact that trees were essential for the fertility of the soil, but disastrous fires had taken place, many due to carelessness, and acres of forests had been wiped out. Unfortunately, such carelessness was not punishable. Mrs. Gilmer said she would like to see it made compulsory for all motor-cars to be equipped with' sufficient ash-con-tainers so that there could be no excuse for persons throwing cigarettes and matches out of windows. Such actious contributed to bush fires.

“We are past the stage when we should say that we live on the land. We have to live by the land,” said Mrs. Gilmer. Nature would never forgive man if he failed to repay a debt. It was man’s duty to give back to the land what he had taken from it in order to preserve his own existence. In the preservation of the soil, it was essential that forests should be maintained.. In many countries she had visited in her recent world tour, trees were being planted by the million to ensure that the fertility of the soiT Was maintained, and that erosion or soil movement might be counteracted.

“We in New Zealand must follow suit, first by preserving what forests we have, and secondly by planting trees,” said Mrs. Gilmer. It was a matter of vital importance. Now was tlie time for the nation to awaken to the grave nature of the problem before it became too late.