SOIL SURVEYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22449, 19 June 1936, Page 6

SOIL SURVEYS

"VALUE OF THE WOKE INCREASING PRODUCTION OPINIONS OF DR. E. MARSDEN [BY TELEGRAPH —SrECIAL reporter] HASTINGS, Thursday Experiments made in. the past three years in the direction of soil surveys were referred to by Dr. E. Marsden, Director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in an address given to the National Dairy Conference to-day. He expressed the opinion that the work involved in the systematic preparation of soil maps of the whole country would be well worth while, for he could seo possibilities of more economic production arising from their proper use. ? Dr. Marsden said soil surveys had proved,worth while in many other countries, particularly in Germany and the United States, but it would be particularly worth while in Now Zealand, where the same background of accumulated knowledge of soils, that the farmer inherited in the older countries, did not exist. Moreover, because of export, less was returned to tlio soil in the, Dominion. Soils in New Zealand varied very much in a short distance. There might bo different grazing properties in two parts of tho same paddock, even 'tfhen given the same top-dressing and sown with the same seed mixture. One part would be voraciously attacked by stock whilo another was left long and rank. , Fertiliser Problems Soil surveys would be of great interest in unravelling tho fertiliser problems, {particularly in South Auckland. They would bo of use in land valuation, although he did not suggest land for farming should bo bought on the Btrength of tho soil map alone. That soil maps were a good basis had been realised in Germany for years. Between 1930 and 1935, 20 large estates and 20 regions bad been especially mapped in Germany for the taxation authorities, In New Zealand tho valuer who was seeking the unimproved value of a farm had to depend largely on his own farm knowledge. Even although the valuer conscientiously did his best to avoid it, tho tendency might be, tinder tho present system based on carrying capacity, etc., for the bad farmer to get a low valuation and tho good farmer a high valuation. Huge Potentialities Dr. Marsden continued that in North Auckland maps that had 'been prepared revealed the huge potentialities of the province, but at the same timo the enormous difficulties to be encountered. There was no doubt that it was 'a safe measure to plan for diversification of output from different provinces so that the national economy might be more stable and progressive. Development and changes would bo helped enormously by soil surveys. He would like to see the various districts organise to help the department in its work, for there was always a danger of the work slowing down because of lack of finance.