Soil Scientists Go Caravanning

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1947, Page 3

Soil Scientists Go Caravanning

(Special) KAIKOHE, This Day. Drawn by a light but sturdy truck, a caravan containing much ingenious scientific equipment is being taken through Northland by three officers of the Soil Fertility Research Station at Hamilton. ...... ~ Purpose of the visit is to provide factual tests on soil constituents in an endeavour to aid farmers using permanent pastures. Included in the party’s schedule has been a two-day visit to the citrus orchards of Kerikeri. This type of work means breaking new ground and the visit is of an exploratory nature. Heading the party is Dr E. B. Davies, research chemist, from Hamilton, his companions being Messrs K. J. McNaught, specialist in plant tissue testing and D. Hogg, assistant soil analyst. CARAVAN’S SECRETS The caravan is used entirely for the scientific work and is fitted up as a highly effective mobile laboratory. On benches, in cupboards and racks, there are the innumerable paraphernalia of the scientist such as test tubes, beakers and bottles of brightly coloured liquids, also others containing a score of liquids looking as innocent as water but from which the uninitiated keep well clear.

In cases tucked away in odd corners are special testing and proving outfits of various types. The party travelled from Hamilton to Auckland and went on to Warkworth, where some soil-testing for a farmer was done. They came on through Waipapa and Kerikeri, spendthrough Whangarei to Waipapa and Kerikeri spending a night in Kaikohe and going on to Dargaville, where a considerable amount of work will be done on differing types of soil. On the way back more work will be done at Warkworth. CITRUS WORK NEW SCOPE

While it is possibly not their principal mission, the scientific party look on their work in Kerikeri as being highly important. Citrus culture is new to the research station and much interest is being taken in Hamilton in the work done by the laboratory staff at Kerikeri. The work there was undertaken at the request of a number of orchardists, backed by the Agriculture Department’s local orchard instructor (Mr P. E. Everett).

Samples of earth and leaves of plants were taken and tested. One of the objectives of the scientists was to try, by means of sap analysis, to find the cause of leaf mottling of citrus trees, also of vegetables. At Waipapa, soil testing was carried out on experimental plots to test pasture on ironstone. CHECK AGAINST TRIALS

Originally the idea was to check chemical methods against topdressing trials and observations by field instructors. The travelling laboratory can make tests of grass growth from pastures. These samples normally could not be sent to the research station at Hamilton as they would not stand the travel.

j The ulimate objective, which is as 'yet a long-term aim, is to provide a method whereby field officers would be able to use chemical tests to check j their visual observations, j This is not now possible because, up to the present, the department has not regarded the application of rapidtesting methods to New Zealand growling conditions as being sufficiently developed. Before long it is hoped to | have these new methods and equipj ment in general use throughout the country. GLIMPSE INTO FUTURE ! This visit of the mobile laboratory | is really only a start in the long-term I scientific analysis and observation of jsoil fertility conditions in various parts of the Dominion and it is heartening that Northland, the soils of which are recognised to be as varied—“patchy” some will call it—as any, has been the scene of its activities.

It is possibly not too much to hope for the day when through soil chemistry and its applied sciences, farmers will be able to gain a clear-cut picture of what their farmlands could or should carry by way of crops or pastures, or what deficiencies are most marked, with the result that a great many of the mistakes that have been an accepted hazard of farming during the colonising era will be avoidable. To the advancement of that happy day, the present scientific visitors from Hamilton are doing their part.