BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 3

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

WHEAT AND OATS POSITION OF WHEAT MORE SATISFACTORY Tho Board of Agriculture held sevoral meetings last week, when a number of matters that had been referred to it by the Minister of Agriculture, various public bodies, and others, were dealt with. The question" of the approximate stocks of wheat and the estimated yield of oats for the present season in the Dominion was gone into with Mr. l'raser, Government Statistician, who placed figures before the board setting out the position, in which he made it clear that so iar as the wheat supply was concerned the position, owing to tho greater yield being threshed than was anticipated, was a good deal more satisfactory than was first expected, the returns made up from figures supplied by threshing mill-owners giving the total amount available as about 6£ million bushels, instead of five millions, as estimated at first. With regard to .oats the position was not so satisfactory, there being a shortage in area this year of 74,000 acres, as compared with last year. After discussion, it was decided that from the evidence given to the board in the matter it is of opinion that there is considerable danger that there will not be enough to meet the requirements of the country. Contagious Mammitis. The board had an interview with Dr. Reakes. Director of the Live Stock and Meat Division, on the subject, of the control of contagious mammitis in cows. After the position had been fully explained to tbe board by him, it was dccided to recommend the Minister _to make contagious mammitis a notifiable disease under the Stock Act, and that before a proved affected animal be allowed to leave the owner's property it should be branded by an inspector so that it cannot 1 be sold ,as a milker. Veterinary Surgeons. The. question of providing legislation for tho 'registration of veterinary surgeons was also gone into with Dr. Iteakes. The proposals submitted' for framing a Bill were agreed to, provided several , provisions which were thought not to be in the interests. of the public were deleted. . A letter Was received from:the Director of the Veterinary School at Melbourne University on the ' subject of encouraging candidates to take up veterinary medicine by means of scholarships. The board discussed this subject with Dr. Reakes, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Government, who approved of the proposal, and it was decided to reply to the Melbourne University authorities, saying that this board will use every, endeavour to procure ■ scholarships to allow students to attend the veterinary classes in Melbourne, but that the present condition of war makes it inadvisable to press the matter for tbe moment. Sale of Seeds. ; 'A proposed Bill for tho control of the sale of seeds was also discussed by the board,, when it was decided that no Bill would be satisfactory which dicl not provide for the examination of all seeds imported into the Dominion, and for tlio prohibition of imported seeds containing deleterious weeds and worthless seeds, and it was decidcd to writethe Minister accordingly. Several matters were discussed witli the Primo Minister, and the board interviewed the Hon. Minister of Education on the subject of agricultural education. and discussed with him a valuable Teport that hacf been drawn up by the president, indicating the most,, urgent requirements at tho present time in. relation to rural education. Limestone and Phosphate. Mr. Parry, Chief Electrical Engineer, eave the board information and figures in connection with crushing plants for limestone and phosphate rock; and Mr. Aston, Agricultural Chemist, gave the board further information with regard to the supply of phosphates from Egypt and other parts. The question of the bonus for the discovery of phosphate deposits in the_ Dominion was also considered in conjunction with a valuable report from the Director of Geological Survey on tho occurrences of phosphate rock in certain localities in New Zealand. and it was decided to recommend that a 'larger bonus be offered for their discovery, and an amendment made in the conditions connected therewith. Agricultural Barks. , A report on agricultural banks, which had been prepared by Mr. Edwin Hall, was submitted to the board. Mr. Hall was heartily thanked for his extremely valuable report, and it was decided that the board could not recommend that legislation should be brought down at present until a 1 greater public demand was shown, but that a leaflet should be published- in the Departmental Journal showing what is being done elsewhere in connection with such banks, and how much might be done in this direction without State aid. Stock for Exhibition. It was stated that entries ;of stock for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition at. San Francisco closed on August) S, and that the steamer taking the stock would leave Wellington on September 16. _ The Department of Agriculture is taking steps to facilitate shipping arrangements. The board desired tho information to be as widely known as possible, in order that intending exhibitors might make their arrangements in good time, and appointed a special subcommittee to deal with the question. Various Matters. _. Amongst other matters the following 'were also dealt with Departmental exhibits at shows; seed' wheat for farmers; proposed laboratory for Auckland: additional land at Moumaliaki Experimental Farm; scholarships and agricultural scholarships; Ashburton High School and experimental plots in connection therewith; re-publication of the book on tree-planting, etc., in the Dominion; and a report on tho present work in connection with tho planting of sand dunes, etc. The members of the board are to visit when possible the various experimental farms before next meeting-. Mr. Arthur M. Jfunro, 8.A., Oxford and New Zealand Honours in chemistry, is prepared to accept pupils in science sub-' jects and mathematics for all University and Civil Service examinations at his address, "R-aroa," 31 Upland Road, Kelburn. The second competition for the Karori Golf Club's silver buttons will be held on Saturday. On Page 1 of this issue three woodplaning machines are offered by Messrs.. Collett's, Ltd., Dannevirke. "All the machines are said to be in real good working order, and the prices are right. CHRONIC RHEUMATISM EFFECTUALLY CURED. No matter how long you have suffered from Rlieuiuafism; 110 matter what other remedies have failed, RHEUMO, if given a fair trial, will effect a cure. Thousands of other sufferers have been permanently cured by RHEUMO, when all else had been tried in vain. Many had spent largo suins of money at Rotorua and other thermal springs, but it was RHEOMO that eventually effected a cure. If you are suffering from Rheumatism, or from Gout, Lumbago. Pciatiea. or kindred complaints, give RHEUMO a fair trial. It has cured others and will euro you—and nt little co?t All pheniJits and stores, 2s, 6d, and &, 6d.—Advt