RESEARCH INTO SOIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 10

RESEARCH INTO SOIL.

EFFECT ON PASTURES.

NORTH VOLCANIC AREAS.

SPECIAL SURVEY TO BE MADE.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Saturday.

"Recent investigations in New Zealand havo shown more clearly than ever the need for further knowledge of our soils, by reason of the distinct bearing they havo upon the pastures that grow upon them," states the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, in his capacity as Minister in Chargo of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. "This has been particularly apparent in the vol canic areas of the North Island, in parts of which stock malnutrition have become acute.

"In order to promote further investigations of these soils, it has been decided to establish a soil reconnaissance division of the geological survey branch of the department. Arrangements have been made for Mr. T. Rigg, of the Cawthron Institute, who has already carried out considerable soil survey work in the Nelson district, to supervise the survoy, which will bq undertaken in the volcanic areas of tho North Island by soveral officers of the geological survey branch. Thoso officers already havo gained experience of the nature of the problem by a series of investigations, conducted during the past year and previously, in the King Country, Rotorua and Taupo areas. "The wort already undertaken has shown that there is a distinct relation between ,the soil material,, both on the surface and in the lower strata, and the incidonce of stock unthriftiness. The establishment of tho soil reconnaissance division will enable work in this area to bo pushed forward more rapidly, and in consequence it will servo as a useful guide to tho land settlement at present taking place on this class of country. "The arrangements will allow soil samples collected in tho field to be mechanically and chemically examined in the laboratories of tho Cawthron Institute, and of an ultimate analysis of these to be carried out in the Dominion laboratory. "The soil reconnaissance work has a direct and immediate bearing upon such soil treatments as ploughing, top-dress-ing, pasture establishment, and stock management. In view of the problems that occur on the unique soil types found throughout the groater part of the North Island, this investigation should prove of the greatest value as a guido to land settlement and to farm practice. The proposed survey will give the skeleton or general picturo on which may bo superimposed by the Department of Agriculture, or chemists attached to fertiliser companios, detailed soil analyses of smaller localities where factors such as resorting of material can bo taken into account. However, the reconnaissance may be expected to indicate generalisations in regard to manurial treatmentover wide areas-

"The work to date has already indicated the soil characteristics of the Mairoa and the parts of Ngaroma on which bush sickness is not likely to be met with. Local showers of andesitic ash should offer an explanation as to why the soils at Horopito are healthy, and similarly tho neighbourhood of tho Houto prison farm, where there is also a slight admixture of water-borne greywacke. Tho new method of approach to the various malnutrition problems has arisen out of the plotting of tho limits of the various showers by Mr. L. I. Grange, and the analysis of mineral content of pastures by tho officers working in conjunction with Mr. B. C. Aston."