AGRICULTURE ON THE WEST COAST

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 May 1916, Page 6

AGRICULTURE ON THE WEST COAST

' LIME FOR THE SOIL.

A FAR-BEACHING ENTERPRISE

During the ■College term "holidays, Mr James Bruce, -agricultural instructor to the Nelson; Education- . Board, vjsited the West Coastf travelling from Glenhope to Karamea, and' back by,motorcycle. 'He presented the following report to the Education Board to-day:—- . "I visited the schools in the Westport and- Karamea district, . taking elementary agriculture and dairy-work, and inspected the classes at work-. The dairywork classes at Karamea and. 1 Seddooville are well conducted, and they are of direct application to the :dafly con-' cerns of the home life of the pupils. It is most satisfactory to- note that inter* est in this the scientific side of the chief industry of the district is well maintained. As Summerlea School has declined to a side school I arranged; with the head-master that the dairy-work outfit be forwarded, to Arapito School, the most suitable place in the vicinity for taking Tip this branch of work. - The head-master of Karamea School has kindly offered to occasionally supervise the practical work. "Since my last visit to the Coast two years ago a notable advance has been made "in* the progress and) development of the dairying industry. In this connection the erection of lime kilns at Cape Fqulwind by the County -Council for the supply of cheap lime to farmers and. the erection- of an up-to-date 'butter factory in Westport : are two butstanding features. The former of these is one of the most progressive and farreaching enterprises undertaken by a ■public body for the benefit of the farming community. As the limestone is "of a porous nature, it should he easily burnt. The samples of lime I -examined slaked Teadily, and I consider the lime very suitable for agricultural purposes. One of the commonest defects in nearly all soils is sourness, and as burnt lime is the most concentrated and effective neutraliser of such sourness sa -well as a fertiliser for certain crops, the County Council retailing the produce at a very reasonable price should conduce to its universal application to the lands of the West Coast."

The chairman and other members referred in highly complimentary terms to the good work Mr Bruce was doings and to the appreciation of his services in. the farming communities. The report was received-.