Applications Asked for Aerial Topdressing

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1949, Page 4

Applications Asked for Aerial Topdressing

press Association)

I (Per

WELLINGTON, May 43:-.-. • The success of the present series -' of aerial topdressing experiments.'in- the Wairarapa has ■ led oto many .influiries" being made.; In antieipation. of an- extension of the scheme, the sub-commit-tee is inviting applicatjons for the in- ■ elusion of larger and more remote ar'eas ' in the second schedule of properties to • be treated. The sub-committee asks neighbouring farmers to co-operate in offermg contiguous areas for t-he topdressing. Applieations cJose on May 20 and will oe reeeived from farmers within a 40-mile air radius of Masterton aerodrome. Mr D. A. Campbell, senior soil -conservator in the Ministry of. Works, said yesterday that antil. midday yesterday 42 tons of fertiliser had been dropppd, and that more Would be distributed in the afternoon or to-day if the weather allowed. The project, he said, was to topdress 1000 acres, ineluding dift'erent types of hill formation, of soil and of pasture. This would amount to a medium scale practical test. He said, tio vv ever, ' that Group-Captain Sheen, deputy-chief of the Air Staff!, had described the aircraft and equipment at present in use as "junk55 salvaged t'or the purpose of showing that the work eould be done. The aircrafts' carrying capacity, said Mr Campbell, was too low to provide an effeetive service. An effort would be made to carry it on, he continued, but no promises eould be made. The present project tiad been undertaken to show the possibilities, but it might be found unwise, or too eostly to eontinue with ihe present equipment.