SOIL SURVEYS

Southland Times, Issue 25314, 18 June 1935, Page 7

SOIL SURVEYS

IMPORTANCE STRESSED. WORK AT CAWTHORN. (Per United Press Association.) Nelson, June 15. With the object of facilitating a general soil survey of New Zealand, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has seconded to the Cawthron Institute Dr J. K. Dixon,, who has been engaged during the past year on soil and chemical studies relating to the incidence of stock ailments in Southland. During the past four years the cooperative soil survey work of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Cawthron Institute has made great progress, and the soil surveys which have been conducted in the central territory of the North Island and Taranaki, in the Waipa County, Waikato, and the Ashburton County, Canterbury, have proved of great value in the elucidation of mineral deficiency ailments in stock and in the inanurial treatment of the land. Soil maps which have been prepared by the field workers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research provide a permanent basis for the conduct of field experimental work. The investigation of stock and soil problems and the improvement of farm practice in the future economic utilization of New Zealand’s soil resources will become of ever-growing importance, and any programme of agricultural development must necessarily be based on an ascertained knowledge of soil types and properties. . Dr Dixon will greatly strengthen the chemical side of the work which is handled by the Cawthron Institute in connection with these New Zealand soil surveys. At the present time soil surveys are proceeding in the Waipa County, Waikato, in the Ashburton County, Canterbury, and at Temuka in the Levels County, South Canterbury. The Canterbury soil surveys are being conducted in connection with irrigation developments which have been approved by the Minister of Public Works. '