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D.L. MICHALK
Since the departure of resident specialists from Gaopoling Farm in 1984, pasture development has been continued by Chinese technicians on at least four other farms in Guangdong with the sowing of about 2,500 ha of improved pasture in 1984 and 85 and the production of 25 tonne of pasture seed. This brings the total area of improved rangeland in Guangdong to approximately 4,000 ha. More important than area developed was the fact that different methods have been developed for each farm to suit the environmental conditions and resource constraints. This is evidence that Gaopoling Farm has been truly effective in demonstrating the principles of range improvement and has not simply promoted an Australian-style pasture development recipe.
Conclusion
In this paper, the history and gradual development of Hainan Island have been traced in accordance with the information gathered from western sources and contemporary experience. Regarding the future of this tropical nook, Frederick Mayers wrote in 1872;
"It remains for coming years to lift the veil of uncertainty, and to decide whether so rich and productive, but neglected an expanse of territory is to continue in its present state or to become a valuable contributor to the world's wealth by means of the admission of western enterprise and commercial relations".
It is this author's belief that this statement is still as relevant to the development of the "Shore of Pearls" as it was when penned a century ago.