New Zealand Interest In Fertile Guadalcanal
New Zealand’s greatest interest in Pacific countries and their agricultural possibilities is indicated by soil analyses of Guadalcanal undertaken by the Soil Bureau of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. These analyses were undertaken at the request of E. M. Ojala, an ex-student of Massey College, who carried out a survey of the 15,000 acres of flat land under grasses on the island.
His finding, based on observation and analyses, is that the grassland soils of Guadalcanal are, generally speaking, very suitable for agriculture. They combine the fertility of a good clay loam and the ease of working of a sandy loam, and growth of all crops suited to the climate is luxuriant. Without the application of any fertiliser the following yields per acre of various crops have been recorded: Rice, 100 bushels; peanuts, 70 bushels; sweet potatoes, 8 tons; yams, 16 tons. In addition, and with heavy dressings of fertiliser, the American armed forces in 1944-46 raised sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, water-melons, and rock-melons on 1,800 acres of the plains.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19480601.2.40.3
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 51, 1 June 1948, Page 6
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180New Zealand Interest In Fertile Guadalcanal Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 51, 1 June 1948, Page 6
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