AIRCRAFT FITTED FOR TOP-DRESSING WAIRARAPA HILLS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22931, 27 April 1949, Page 4

AIRCRAFT FITTED FOR TOP-DRESSING WAIRARAPA HILLS

(S.R.) WELLINGTON, April 27. The first large-scale aerial topdressing of hill country involving the distribution of seeds and fertilisers is expected to take place in the Wairarapa districts on Monday, May 2. Arrangements were made by a committee representing the Lands Department, the farmers’ organisation, the Wairarapa Aero Club and the Catchment Board. Sixteen properties were selected as suitable in soil type and topography and the final selection will reduce the number to 12. Three Avenger aircraft have been fitted with fertiliser hoppers and controls and it is intended to apply superphosphate at the rate of 2cwt. per acre. The Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, stated today that encouraging results had followed a year’s trials of aerial distribution of seeds and fertilisers and in a second stage of these trials the technique was evolved of handling a hill-country project at Raglan.

“The coming field trials,” added the Minister, “are the culmination of painstaking teamwork by the departmental scientists, the Air Force, Federated Farmers and the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council which is responsible for the prevention and control of soil erosion and flooding." He anticipated that after the Wairarapa trials on the large scale intended sufficient information would be available to advise the Government on the application of aircraft to a solution of some troublesome farming and soilconservation problems.