DRAINAGE AS A FACTOR IN INCREASING PRODUCTION

Abstract

When I was asked to give a paper on farm drainage at the 1951 Grassland Conference my first thought was that Taranaki, with its pervious volcanic soils, was hardly the place in which such a paper would be of interest. I have since changed my mind in this connection after having had a quick visit to the Uruti district to inspect draina.ge carried out by Mr Butler near Inglewood, to see some excellent results of drainage by Mr Fox (Okahu Rd., Okato), whose herd has been increased from 35 cows to 130 over the past 26 years, largely, and basically, as a result of drainage, and also to inspect, somewhat hurriedly, a very large area on the western side of Mt. Egmont where drainage is the key to the development of country which, in its present condition is contributing little or nothing to production.