Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1930, Page 4

Those who had the good fortune to listen to the public undress of Proressor Easterfield at the County Charnoers last week, could not but be impressed with the g-ood work being done oy the Cawtlira-n' Institute, and in parJcular the great'value to the northern .om muni tv of the work the staff has ;een in dealing scientifically with several of the problems of the district. Nelson has always stood high as a fruit-growing district, but the time ■ lime when disease invaded the jrchards and serious losses and dim--11 lit ion of crops resulted It was fortunate there was at hand such an institution as the Cawtiuon organisation provided, and both plant and soil diffiulties had prompt attention. The application of science in the way of a soil survey saved those occupying the .Uoutere Hills from complete loss, and mtomology applied to the plant life, saved the fruit trees from the ravages of destructive insect life. What is being done in this direction should be more wildly known, for there is the suggestion that modern science applied .» the problems of those on the land, can remove many of the ills settlers are suffering from. The field pro.l net ion of New Zealand is rapidly advancing and lectures and instruction from the staff of such an institution as that at Nelson, will represent a great gain in sterling value to the' Dominion. A very large expenditure is going on in respect to education, and some of that money might well be diverted to simple scientific instruction to the man on the land whereby the productive capacity of both his holding and his stock might be produced. The knowledge to be gained in this respect would turn what are considered bad farms into good, The address showed that the worst land was capable of improvement, productively, if rightly treated. Once some improvement was manifested, it would be an encouragement to carry on the treatment, and so the returns would pass from good to better. It is now well established that top dressing pays, but it is not right that top-dressing should be done blindly. It is here where the scientist would come in. The quality of the soil varies, and some areas require more and others less of the various kiiKis of lei tiliser.s. The economic use oi the fertilisers is of value in achieving effective results, and it is in re- I sped to this matter that more know- | ledge and instruction is needed. Here, then ,is the need for a .soil survey, and it would be worth while for a combined effort to be made to subsidise an officer of such an institution as Cawtbron tan supply for the purpose of securing a soil survey at least of the settled parts of the district. The information to be gleaned would well repay such an outlay, and the various branches ol the Farmers’ Union might "ell take up such a project- for the public good.