WASTE LANDS OF BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 19

WASTE LANDS OF BRITAIN

SIR JULIEN CAHN’S SCHEME (From Odr Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 14. In. the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture for the current month further details are given of the scheme to increase the fertility of the 13,000,000 acres of what is scheduled as rough hill grazing in Great Britain. This scheme is being financed by Sir Julifen Calm and is under the direction of Professor Stapledon, of Aberystwyth. Professor Stapledon is employing the latest methods of mechanisation to help towards achieving his object. The coining of the tractor of the caterpillar type has made hill cultivation possible and opened the door to the utilisation of all the many implements that are just as necessary for grassland cultivation as for arable. About 3000 acres have been taken possession of, so that the scheme will be tested on a sufficiently large scale to judge of. its results properly. The altitudes vary from 900 feet to 1800 feet, so that there is no question of choosing the most favourable situation: indeed; Professor Stapledon has deliberately chosen the worst altitudes. - Fertilisers, of course, are being used, and 'strains ■ of ' grass 'for -.which, .the Aberystwyth Plant Breeding Station is world' famous are being tried. The great problem is the wintering of animals, for if this can be economically effected the of the work is comparatively easy.