LAND UTILISATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 14

LAND UTILISATION

HAWKE'S BAY SURVEY SOIL AND CROP PROBLEMS ISSUE OF FIRST BULLETIN [BY TELEGHAFH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS, Wednesday Much importance is attached to the Heretaunga Plains land utilisation survey, the bulletin for which has just been issued, in view of the fact that it is the first land utilisation survey to be carried out in New Zealand. Soil surveys have been undertaken previously, but never before have pasture and farm management surveys been superimposed on the results of the soil survey. For this reason the Hawke's Bay survey has been rather in the nature of an experiment. Complete with four exceedingly detailed maps is the first of the four bulletins to be issued. Its compilation has occupied the attention of officers of the soil survey division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the fields division of tlie Department of Agriculture for about three years. * Basis lor Development The bulletin provides a basis on which the future development of the districts concerned may be planned, and clearly indicates the avenues of possible development which, for varying reasons, should bfi avoided.

A comprehensive review of soil types is given and farming, fruit growing and market garden crops, in their relation to tlie soil and climatic and other conditions, are brought vividly into the picture. In a foreward to the bulletin, Dr. E. Marsden, secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial .Research, states that all associated with the survey have learned a great deal by the experience, which will be of considerable benefit in future extensions of regional surveys. Immediate Interest Nevertheless, he has no doubt but that the data presented in the Heretaunga Plains and succeeding bulletins will be of immediate interest to the people ol : Hawke's Bay and to all thoso interested in land utilisation problems. Dr. Marsden expresses the hope that the bulletins will serve as a guide to the sound and progressive development of the province and that they will bo studied from this point of view. In undertaking a comprehensive / survey of Hawke's Bay, the end of which is 'now in sight as is indicated by the . publication of the first bulletin, those concerned in the work have been able to adopt many of the methods employed in the foremost countries in the world which have undertaken similar work, and to introduce new and up-to-date methods. That their efforts have proved successful has been borne out by the comments by various eminent overseas authorities who have inspected the work in progress.