VICTORIANS INSPECT MASSEY COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 13

VICTORIANS INSPECT MASSEY COLLEGE

“Interesting And Valuable Institution” INTENSIVE GRAZING EXPERIMENT Dominion Special Service. PALMERSTON N„ March 15. An interesting and instructive two hours and a half was spent at Massey College this morning by the members ot the party of Victorian farmers which visited Manawatu in the course of a month’s tour of the Dominion. Conducted by the principal of the college, Professor G. S- Peren, the party was shown many of the most important sides of the college’s activities, including the wool research laboratory and the veterinary pathological department. Later a visit was paid to the grassland research institute. , In the wool research department demonstrations were given, under the superintendence of the head of the department, Mr. R. Waters, of the method of testing wool for hairiness. The _ department's card index system for keeping stud sheep records was also demonstrated, and its value for the purpose for which it was designed was quickly appreciated by those members of the pa"rty who are interested in breeding. 'The demonstrations of the work of the veterinary pathological department were given by the head of the department, Air. W. M. Webster. M.R.C.V.S., and Mr. B. A. Reynolds, and were mostly confined to the work of testing rams for sterilization.

Scope Being Broadened.

An outline of the work of the college was given the visitors in the assembly hall by Professor Peren. Animal husbandry, he said, constituted the main work of the college, though the scope of the work was being steadily broadened. The new domestic science department had been tremendously successful, and that section was undoubtedly growing in size and influence. He explained the nature of the many specialist courses that were available at the college—the farmers’ gatherings in the winter time, the herd-testing course, the diploma course, for dairy manufacture, and other activities of the college. In departments like that for woM research the aim of the college was to devise simple and cheap tests to make it possible for a farmer to have his whole flock tested. Grazing Experiment. A phase of the college's activities that appealed to the visitors was an experiment in intensive sheep grazing. An area ot 80 acres hits been divided into Jo paddocks. in which in rotation 550 ewes arc .grazed. Professor Peren said lie was, not yet prepared to recommend the principle, but the results so far were very encouraging and were pointing the way to a closer utilization of the land. Before leaving the college Mr. R. B, Ranken, leader of the visiting party, thanked Professor Peren for showing them something of what was to them one of the most interesting and valuable institutions they had seen on their tour. The work of the grassland research institute was explained to the visitors by the head of the department, Air. B. Lev). The visitors left Palmerston North by bus for Wellington this afternoon ami will sail for Sydney by Hie Wanganella tomorrow.