SOIL TREATMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 October 1942, Page 3

SOIL TREATMENT

NEW METHODS ADVOCATED ! MR L. M. ESTCOURT ADDRESSES MEETING There was an attendance of 20 at the Theatre Royal last evening to hear Mr j L. M. Estcourt advocate and propose the establishment of an Empire School I of Practical Scientific Culture based on t his system of soil treatment. The deputy 1 Mayor. Mr H. G. B. Hurst, presided. Mr Hurst said that, Mr Estcourt being an old boy of Nelson, he thought it was due to him to preside at this meeting. He believed Mr Estcourt had a story to tell, for he had been at his particular job for 50 years. Mr Estcourt was keen to set about the establishment of some sort of school where he could give instruction on his type of cultivation. Mr Estcourt in beginning his address paid a tribute to his mother who encouraged him in his work, and the late Mr W. F. Worley, a teacher, who was particularly interested in geology and the rock contents of this country. The latter had given him great encouragement in his work of tending plants. The speaker said he wished to establish an Empire School of Practical Scientific Culture. The foundations of an Empire came from the soil, and he i wanted to be out in the open giving ! the primary producer the benefit of his experience. Primary production was the only real wealth of New Zealand, and it had failed. The reason was that scientists and others had worked in grooves. He proposed that in his school he should be paid on a percentage basis. To-day he had had his living taken away from him and had been left stranded. He did not have a position to-day because of jealousy and vindictiveness. He had been told that he had no knowledge and no experience, that he was unbalanced and was a man ! of uneven temperament. | He then read a letter from a grower ' paying a tribute to the speaker’s sys- ! tern. He quoted experience with citrus ' fruit in the north, where he claimed he had had success, but was transferred by the department. In Blenheim he had promised to cure facial eczema on stock and had made certain recommendations. To-day his methods were being used and he was getting no credit. Mr Estcourt referred at some length ! to newspaper correspondence and rej ports and debates in the House of Representatives on the question of what j lie described as unfair treatment of i himself. He then added: “I don't want j to appear to-night in a vindictive state. Vindictiveness is not in my soul.” | He went on to say that he wanted j now to get down to the system but he was not giving away secrets. When | the world was created there could only have been one system for plant and ani- . mal life. The foundation for all those lives was in the soil. That soil was in : good condition but since then man had : done things which had ruined plant life, and that made it impossible to i produce healthy animal life and con sequently impossible to produce sound human beings. The country had not made use of what it had. For many , years lime had not been used. At school he had used lime, and to his knowledge that was the firjt time lime had been used. Referring to phosphate, he : said that this being rock remained in ; the soil and after some years the soil would be mainly phosphatic. He had also advocated the adding of minerals, and particularly two that 1 were lacking in most soils, iron and magnesium. But if mineral salts were not applied correctly there was just as much danger of damaging plants as by leaving them out. He contended that the system he had evolved would reduce overhead costs and would reduce overtaxation. His system would give the body all the things it needed without over-eating, as men were compelled to do to-day. Many diseases were caused by malnutrition of plant life. The present system had stagnated plant life, and it could only be cured by the application of fertilisers that would give the desired results of free fertile soil. Humus was valuable but did not convey everything necessary for the soil. Mr Estcourt said that he wanted to offer his services to the Empire and that was why he was undertaking the present scheme. He wanted to work with groups of men, not individuals. This would be a school with sound practical knowledge, based on long experience. He hoped that from this small meeting there would develop bigger things. A questioner asked if it would not be better for Mr Estcourt to start the scheme on his own and thus demonstrate it. Mr Estcourt replied that he had demonstrated it. There was no necessity for further research. Mr Estcourt was also asked if it would not be necessary to make an analysis of every plot of land if his scheme was put into operation. He replied that it would not be necessary. There were very few plots of land in this country which were not deficient in the main minerals. The chairman expressed the hope that something practical would result from the meeting and moved a vote of thanks to the speaker which was carried with acclamation.