SOIL SURVEYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 14 March 1908, Page 9

SOIL SURVEYS.

[Bx Telbgbaph. — Special to The Post.J AUCKLAND, This Day. The question of soil surveys was touched upon by tho committee of the Auckland A. and 'P. Association in its report to the annual meeting of members yesterday. It was urged that steps should bo taken to co-operate with the Department of Agriculture in starting something in tho way of a soil survey with a view of classifying' some of the most typical soils ithat cover a large areain the Auckland province to determine their physical and chemical characteristics, their mechanical state, their texture and moisture, the crops for which they are best adapted, their natural plant growth, the most payable crops grown in other parts upon soils of the- same character, and the best method of treating them so as to securo tho maximum crops at the least cost. At the same meeting tho question of establishing a bureau of agricultural information for The purpose of assisting farmers was referred to. It was suggested that steps should be taken to provide at the ofliee of the association a bureau to which settlers might apply for information about agricultural and other kindred matters. Something has already been done in this direction. A large number of useful works of reference have been added to tho library during the past year, and. a considerable number of the agricultural bulletins and reports issued by Kngl'slt and American departments of agriculture. An assortment of the best English aiul American and colonial agricultural journals .were also taken rcgu-la-rly, for tho use of the membeis. It was stated that tho time had cuine when more should, h» done in this direction.