52 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



(/) Summary and Conclusion. On the whole, the 

 New Zealand climate is very beneficial to the growth 

 of a vigorous and healthy population. No greater 

 tribute can be paid to the climate of the Dominion than 

 the fact that the Maori race, which the Europeans found 

 here on their arrival, was characterised by a vigour 

 and determination rare among uncivilised races. Un- 

 doubtedly, natural environment contributed considerably 

 to its fine physique, intelligence, and character. 



Further, the fertility of the soil gives remarkable 

 testimony to the genial climate of New Zealand; for in 

 agricultural yields the Dominion can compare with any 

 other country in the world. 



Lastly, the vital statistics show the lowest death rate 

 in the world, and this is undoubtedly due largely to the 

 salubrity of its climate. 



5. Cultural Methods. 



The necessity of paying close attention to the culti- 

 vation of the soil is a matter the importance of which 

 has been emphasised already in the previous chapter. 

 Two main objects should be kept in view when any 

 method of cultivation is adopted : 



(1) Conservation of moisture in the soil; and 



(2) Conservation of fertility. 



Methods which ignore the importance of either of 

 these are not likely to afford the best results, but 

 will ultimately prove disastrous, both to the farmer 

 and to the community. 



For the first of these objects attention must be directed 

 to the necessity of fallowing the land, while for soil 

 fertility a consideration of crop rotation and artificial 

 fertilisation of the soil is necessary. The latter has 

 already received due attention under another heading. 

 It remains to consider the importance of fallowing. 



The greatest advantage of bare fallowing is that it 

 permits the farmer to obtain the maximum benefit from 

 the rainfall, for fallowed land will preserve the 



