GRASSLANDS SURVEY

Southland Times, Issue 24154, 17 June 1940, Page 2

GRASSLANDS SURVEY

PASTURE ANALYSIS IN » * NWTH ISLAND f A survey of the grasslands of the North Island, made by Mr E. A. Madden, of the grasslands division of the Plant Research Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was mentioned recently by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. He said a bulletin had been prepared, accompanied by a map, as a result of the survey. “The types of pasture in which perennial ryegrass and white clover are dominant, occupy, only .4 per cent of the total area of the North Island, that is, approximately 100,000 acres, the Minister said. “Pastures with danthonia as the only dominant species occupy about 3,500,000 acres, or 12.8 per cent, of the total area. The area occupied by forest, dense scrub and eroded country is, on the other hand, approximately 9,330,000 acres, or 33.4 per cent of the total area of the North Island.” Mr Sullivan said that the outstanding importance of pasture lands to New Zealand was realized when it was remembered that approximately 94 per cent of the exports of the Dominion were associated with the pastoral industry. The principal exports, wool, frozen meat, butter and cheese, were all based on grasslands and to a major extent the economic prosperity of New Zealand was dependent upon them. Work on various problems was being carried out by the Plant Research Bureau.