AID OF SCIENCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 4

AID OF SCIENCE

WHAT THE FARMER NEEDS. By Telegraph-Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, February i. A number of judges at (lie Feildins Show, together with the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie (Minister of Lands), paid a visit nt the invitation of Mr. E. Short to the Pnrorangi Estate, and took the opportunity of inspecting the Komney and Hereford .studs. They were afterwards hospitably entertained nt Hie homestead. In responding to the toast of his health, Mr. Short said Hint, seeing that they 'had the Minister present, he would like to make a suggestion. It was that tho Department of Agriculture should get; the best scientist available to test soils and teach fanners how lie?! to treat tVem for results. lie had hud Visitors from America and other parts of tho world inspecting his stock, and 'lie was sometimes told to put plenty of bone into his stock. Breeders were told to give plenty of bono and constitution to stud stock. How were they to do it? In his i paddocks he had lots of small sandstone pebbles. How was he to treat laud to get the best out of it? They iji New Zealand had the best country in the world, but wanted to know how to make the best use of it. The Department of Agriculture should engage the bp.st scientist in the world for the work. It would not matter if it cost .£500(1 a year, it would pny the country. The farmers themselves would pay for a man if necessary, if ho ivere procured. They were struggling away with their manures trying to find out what was best. There was Mr. Perry, who had been liming his land and getting good results, but the Government ought fo do the experimenting. It was tiiuo tho Board of Agriculture did something. Mr. Perry said lie was glad that Mr. Short had mentioned tho matter. He had been experimenting on his farm with pood mulls, and farming was now a pleasure to him. Regarding the Board of Agriculture, he had been a member, and he had to say that there had been difficulties in the way of the board doing what Mr. Short suggested. They had had Hie war and other things hi. the way, but now the board might have the opportunity of acting as Mr, Short suggested was necessary. They needed so to fertilise (heir lands as to make the produce treblo crops. If (hey did that, there' need bo no worry about meeting the interest bill on the country's lingo debt.

The Hon. Mr. Guthrie said that he had mad* a hoto of the suggestion, and would convey it to the proper quarter.