Early article about aerial topdressing

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a very early article about aerial topdressing:

Local and General
Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 94, Issue 94, 30 November 1945, Page 3


Interest in the question of topdressing New Zealand hill-country from the air has been revived again with the end of the war, the shortage of experienced labour for this work, and the necessity for the immediate application of superphosphate to large tracts of sheepgrazing hill country which have been denied treatment with fertilisers during the war.

These areas, which carry a large proportion of the Dominion's flocks, will in cases erode badly, or revert to scrub and fern, if early steps are not taken to re-establish a firm sole of grass, says the "Dominion."

Massey Agricultural College has recently taken the initiative in an attempt to arrange for trials in aerial topdressing. The hilly Gisborne district, one of the most important sheep-farming areas in New Zealand, is vitally interested in any scheme which may save labour and prevent further erosion scars from appearing on the steeper slopes. A small committee of sheep-farmers has discussed the question of having supplies delivered to outback stations by air, as well as the general question of hill-country top-dressing.

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EG19451130.2.9&cl=search&srpos=1&e=01-12-1941--12-1945--10--1-byDA---0aerial+topdressing--&st=1

[Tony]

Does anyone remember a black & white movie/docco about top dressing in post war era?

I saw it at high school in the early '60's.
All I remember of it was a Tiger Moth crashing into a large tree.

Any ideas?

[The Red Baron]

Get a copy of The Super Pilots DVD its on there.

[Tony]

Sept 5, 2011 21:05:31 GMT 12 The Red Baron said:

Get a copy of The Super Pilots DVD its on there.

Fantastic.
Cheers

[thomarse]

IIRC the original film (National Film Unit?) was called "Land From The Sky" and it did the rounds accompanied by another called "Jetobatics" which featured the RNZAF Vampire aeros team.

APQ was written-off after a collision with high tension lines at Reikorangi, not far from PP. It would appear that - unless the wreckage had been "fiddled" - it may not have been badly damaged in the original incident. Perhaps it was sacrificed in the making of the movie? I wonder if there's anyone around who can tell the tale? Sadly, certainly not "Mac" McGregor who owned it or Claude Stephenson who was flying it.

[Dave Homewood]

What I'd like to know, getting back to the original topic, is when it says "Interest in the question of topdressing New Zealand hill-country from the air has been revived again with the end of the war", at what point had the original interest been around?

Was it discussed publicly, ie in newspapers, before or durng the war? This seems to imply it was an old idea.

[The Red Baron]

Evening Post 1926

Sowing Seed by Aircraft.
"That the Government be asked to plant with suitable trees, waste lands such, as the Rimutakas and country where noxious weeds have taken possession" was a remit to the Royal Agricultural Society's Conference today, which met with general approval. It is suggested that gums or other suitable trees, which would grow again after the passage- of frequent fires, would be preferable, to pinua insignis. A delegate referred to tho. American method of spraying rough areas with seed by aeroplane, and as a suitable district mentioned