SOIL SURVEY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1932, Page 8

SOIL SURVEY

- WORK TO BE CO-ORDINATED. WELLINGTON, October 20. An important reorganisation to secure thy co-ordination of the 60il survey investigations be.ng carried out in New Zealand by various Government Services and the Cawthron Institute was announced this evening by the Prim e Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes). 1

During the past few years investigations have revealed t.ie fundameutaimportance of the field ■work of the gtfj.ogical survey in connexion with soil formation and changes in the soil. Moreover, the work has shown the necessity for linking up the manurial response trials with,the soil types on whjch these trials have been made' in order .to indicate more correctly th ’areas over which . proved types of manurial response are applicable. 'Accordingly, a soil survey branch oi the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been formed to work under the general direction of the Secretary of the Research Department, the jAssistant-Director-Genorat of Agricultur e (Mr T. Rigg), of the Cawthron Institute, ar 1 the Director or Geological Survey. The work of these various branches will in future be fully co-ordinated.

The ' work so far in the volcanic shower areas of the North Island, and the (Soil surveys undertaken by the Native have indicated several general fundamental factors, ar'-i a start will be made on its application to more intensive sirea*\ The work will-'begin in the Waikato, gradually extending t> other .areas in. both ■lslands. The full v-ork will take s m? years to. complete, but •i+ ! s considered of •fundamental importance to the economic use of fertiliser's and intensive farming generally..