NELSON DISTRICT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 4

NELSON DISTRICT

SUITABILITY OF LAND FOR INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE

DISTINGUISHED ■- VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS

The beauty of the farming district surrounding Nelson and its suitability ? tor - intensive agriculture under skilled * "management were the' general lmpres- "- sions gathered by Sir John Russell, director, of the Rothamsted Experimental Station,- England, during, a motoring trip yesterday through .the. Waimea plain, the ;Moiitere, Motuieka, and Riwaka. and ; up to the top of the Takafka Hill.' Sir John wias accompanied; by Easterfieldand .Mr T. Rigg, both of "the Cawthrqn "Institute,'and : others.; i Sir John described the trip and some, of his impressions" to a "Mail"' representative last night. ;■.'■'<; ■The first s|op '.was; rriaile' at Wakatu; •;, wherevpear orchards- were being pulled Z' out by a, traction engine. '".'., At the Cawthron Institute's farm at Arines-. brook the visitor was greatly: interested in root stock experiments, which were explained by Mr The , Marsdetf 1 property at Stoke was visf ted and \ amongst other things Sir John,'saw itho olect-rbciilture experiments. "At present," he said, ' 'no effect, from electro- '.. culture is-visible." "*■

After, inspecting the subterranean ' clover patch on Mr" Saxton's property; at Stoke the party went on [to {lie Stoke < Freezing Works, where apples suffering* ; from "drought spot" -and. "cork" arons- ■-■:'■. ed considerable ihterest. .- ;.; :, ( ■ '•■■.. The excellent effect of top-dressing on land Moute'reHilM : type was seen ■qii Mr Poppin's property at Richmond. ■/ The sheep were in very, excellent, con- " ditioii and Sir John'-understood '':■.". ' carrying capacity) of the land had been- : raised from one" -,to four stiecp to the acre. From this point the wonderful results obtained on the hill slopes where' the early peas and potatoes are grown were remarked by Sir John. This was, he said, the combined effect of the situation on a hill slope with a favourable aspect near to the sea and a good soil of natural high fertility. : The lucerne experimental plot on the A; and P. grounds was? viewed. 'The next call was at Hurst and Stewart's or-" ' chard at Redwood's Valley where Sir John said he was very interested to see side by side with a first-class orchard ,: another orchard in which the trees were'" being pulled out and also sbmeof, ■the*/; ; original grass land which, he understood, - , : would not carry one sheep to,three acres. ~ L.' In the afternoon Mr Anderson's or- ~:, chard at Riwaka was visited where ■ Sir John was able to- see the; excellent results that had been obtained in -the . control iof brown" rot and also in " in- , 'creasing the yield of peaches by manuring., Another Orchard was then inspect- • ed, certain .areas of . whjchf produced "drought spot" infected apples in.; "dry '■■'_ seasons.- -. The party then proceeded to the top of the Takaka hill where the' visitor greatly admired the fine -view from Mr. ' Henderson's libmesteaiLafr Kairuru. Sir - T ; : John also took much interest in the mar-'- ~ ble formation on this property.' From here the-party returned'to NeKy' son. '"' ■:•'■'■;: \ ■:•';■ ■ .;!. ,',:;'-■,.; -•; ':':■ *:'• •'■ %

' Sir John left for Blenheim and Kaikoura first thing this morning and will contiriue ; 'on to Christchurclr.on Satur- , -day.', He will spend Satxirday evening ,y' and Sunday at Lincoln. * '