TOP-DRESSING AND SOIL FERTILITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 11

TOP-DRESSING AND SOIL FERTILITY

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—While reading the report of the fine address of the president of the Otago Farmers' Union, my attention was arrested by the following paragraph:—" When it is realised that superphosphate at £2 10s per ton would convert thousands of acres of store sheep country into fattening country, there is no need for me to stress the benefits accruing from such a scheme." Now, in these days when we are fighting for our existence, destructive criticism is the last thing to be desired, and what 1 wish to say must be considered merely as an effort to start a new line of thought. I am neither a skilled agriculturist nor a bio-chemist, but it has occurred to others than myself that the wisdom of the ages could be many times used to great advantage in the modern scheme. Here are some modern problems:—(l) Why is the medical treatment of disease gradually becoming one of the largest industries in the country.? (2) Why are our children's teeth the worst in the world? (The Maoris' were the best.) (3) Why are our stock getting new diseases every year? (4) Why is the insect pest becoming such a problem? Now, it is my contention that the loss of superphosphate is a blessing in disguise. I will be bold enough to sav that the heavy top-dressing of the store sheep country in question for a number of years will result in the loss of these thousands of acres for all time as producing land. When Mr Thomson spoke of exploitation he spoke of individuals. But what of the soil! Can it not also be exploited? It is a theory that many of our present-day troubles are due to exploitation of the soil. If it is sick we shall be sick: if it dies, it shall cease bearing its fruits, and we must seek elsewhere foour food. The fertility of vast areas of the earth's surface has decreased enormously during the last 50 years. We are learning the penalties of deforestation. We have seen millions of acres of America s finest J and turned to dust; we have seen the mountain sides of the North Island swept bare. We have seen great tracts of Australia and Africa turning to desert. Has this not all been caused by exploitation of the soil, although the individual m»v have suffered in the process! Here is the question. Are we by artificial manuring upsetting Nature's methods? We have seen what happens when vast quantities of the earth's flora are destroved. but what happens when we drain the 'last ounce of humus from the soil/ is the food we are producing by artificial means good food: has it the mineral and vitamin content it is supposed to have? Many of the salts our bodies contain (iodine, for example! would be poisonous if taken in excess Do certain artificial manures poison the soil? Ancient farming methods always retained soil fertility. *or 4000 years the soil of parts of China has procured its four crops a year, and has supported its teeming millions in health. The only manure used was, and is compost. Could we not use this period when production has to be limited to try to regain, by natural methods (organic manuring)'some of our lost soil fertility? I am strongly of the opinion that if something is not done in this direction we shall eventually starve in the midst of plenty—that "God's own country, the chief wealth of which is her soil, may not be worth fighting for.—l am. etc., Oamaru. June 5. Labouring Earth.