GENERAL CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND 33 
in common with most graphs but outstanding in this 
one, in that it shows at a glance the position which could 
have been obtained from two columns only after a close 
scrutiny and then but in part. The greatest area in 
production outside of Canterbury and Otago was about 
45,000 acres in 1899, while in many later years the 
difference is negligible, an average of about 5 per cent. 
only of the total area not being situated in these two 
provinces since 1900. 
But a precaution must be observed in interpreting the 
result as it is depicted by the graph, for it tends to 
exaggerate the position. If we observe the lines only 
the perpendicular distance between them is very small. 
But this does not measure the real result; for this we 
have to look to the vertical distance between the peaks 
of each graph. Were this precaution not observed, it 
would appear that the percentage area in production 
outside of Canterbury and Otago is less than half of 
what it really is. 
Having now given reasons for choosing a particular 
area for investigation, we can now proceed with a con- 
sideration of conditions in detail as they are found 
there. 
2. Soils. 
(a) Soil Qualtfications—Mr. B. C. Aston, Agricultural 
Chemist to the New Zealand Government, after a com- 
prehensive analysis of New Zealand soils, concludes that 
‘‘New Zealand is a country remarkable for containing 
within a comparatively small land area such a number 
of different types of soils that a Continent would require 
to be ransacked to discover elsewhere a similar variety.”’ 
The district of Central Otago contains the richest soils 
of the Dominion, but lack of water prevents these being 
fully utilised. The fertile Canterbury Plains supply 
excellent examples of gravel fans covered with soils of 
varying depths and fineness. This area together with 
North Otago comprises the greater part of the wheat 
producing area of New Zealand, and furnishes an 
excellent proof of the fact that wheat has a wide range 
B 
