BELIEF THAT MARGINAL LAND IN BRITAIN CAN BE QUICKLY IMPROVED

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1949, Page 5

BELIEF THAT MARGINAL LAND IN BRITAIN CAN BE QUICKLY IMPROVED

I LONDON, May 31 (Rec. 7 pm).— I According to a survey prepared by [ the Agricultural Economics Depart- ' mon of Bristol University, at. the request cf the Somerset branch of the [National Farmers’ Union, at least 16,500,000 acres of marginal land on Exmoore, and similar health and [moorland areas in Britain, could be (improved within a short space of time to such an extent that it could well lead to a 5d a week increase in the British meat ration. “According to competent and conservative estimates,” says the rei port, “home beef production could be rapidly increased from this land at a rate of 250,000 store cattle a year. The sheep population could be increased even more rapidly, possibly by 50 per cent. There is, in addition, at least. 1,000,000 acres which, if re-j claimed by drainage and other means, , could be mode into first-class agri- . cultural land.” The survey confirmed a general I opinion that, marginal land farmers ; are at present the most depressed i class in British agriculture.—Special I N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.