INCREASED PRODUCTIVENESS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 4

INCREASED PRODUCTIVENESS

Although the development of King Country farm lands has been delayed when compared with the position in some other areas, rapid progress is now being made and the district is assuming a position of great importance in farm production. In the Waitomo County tha sheep population has increased in 10 years from 269,476 to 456,761, or nearly 70 per cent. In the same period the number of cattle has increased by 42 per cent, from 58,456 to 82,540. These figures show a remarkable acceleration in the rate of progress, but if general conditions continue to be reasonably favourable the next decade will probably see an even greater advance made.

Considerable areas of new country have been brought to a productive stage through the various land settlement schemes, but a far greater advance has been made by the application of science to farming methods by individual farmers, assisted by experts of the Department of Agriculture. The country has not been thoroughly tested or understood until comparatively recent years, and large areas deteriorated because of lack of knowledge of what the soil needed and generally of farm management suited to that particular class of land. Science has helped and practical examples have renewed confidence in the potential quality of a large part of the county. Perseverance and research have shown again that even comparatively hilly country can be made productive if the right methods are employed. It is not forgotten that a great part of the Waikato was not so many years ago considered infertile country. But the secrets of the soil were investigated, the necessary fertilisers and farming methods were applied, and the results are something in which the people of the province take a justifiable pride. The King Country presented particular problems, many of which are now well on the way to solution. Already Waitomo is one of the most important sheep counties in the Auckland province, and the cattle statistics show that the advance has been general. Dairying has not increased to the same extent because most of the Country has been found to be particularly suitable for sheep, but even the dairy cow population has increased from 12,662 to 13,504 in 10 years, and more rapid development in that direction is expected in the near future.