THE farmable lands of Westland are oases set in a much larger area of marginal and unfarmable soils, backed by a still larger area of rock and snow. In the Westland land district, approximately 345,000 acres (8.3%) of the land is farmable; 377,000 acres (8.5%.) can be described as marginal - giving that word a generous meaning - and the balance, 3,394,OOO acres (83% ) is considered entirely unsuited to farming. This is well illustrated in a map showing the farmable areas which accompanies a report prepared by the N.Z. Department of Lands and Survey ( 1956). This excellent publication is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the problems of this region, though the area under survey included Karamea, Buller, Inangahua and only part of Westland land district.
