AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

MINERAL CONTENT OF PASTURES. RESEARCH REGARDING WOOL At the quarterly meeting of the Board of Agriculture held lu Wellington recently the following matters were considered:— Sir James Wilson explained that the question of the mineral composition of pastures was becoming a very important problem and occupying a large amount of attention in other countries. Thev were beginning to learn that though a pasture looked good it might not contain the neces sary amount of mineral matter whren was essential for the domestic animals’ well-being. He mentioned the fact that in some districts superphosphate was ceasing to give the result which had been hitherto associated with its use. It had sot. Ann wondering whether some element other than phosphorus was necessary. He had asked Mr Aston, chief chemist (directing tho mineral research in pasture} to address tho Board on the matter.

Mr Aston read the schemb of research which has been drawn up by himself in consultation with Dr. lieakes. and which included tho investigation of three deficiency diseases and one disease which has not Peen > proved to be a deficiency disease, all of whicn are undoubtedly due to the pasture which is tho sole diet of the animals (ruminants in all cases). Dr. Orr. tho director of tho Rowott Research Institute, has approved of the scheme, stating that iu his opinion the scheme was a good one and should fit in well with the joint pasture work within the Empire. Mr Aston described each type of deficiency under investigation, and answered a number of questions. With reference to superphosphate, few farmers realised trie triple quality of this valuable manure which, in addition to supplying phosphorus, also supplies large quantities of calcium and sulphur, all three being elements essential to tho nutrition of the animal. The response of crops and pasture and the stock grazed on them to superphosphate might therefore not always be solely due to the phosphoric acid. If it was due to the calcium or sulphur there were cheaper ways of supplying them than iu super. In any case there should always (except in the case of sandy lands) be enough carbonate of limo in the soil to combine with the superphosphate and prevent the reversion to insoluble, unavailable compounds of iron and alumina. Sandy land should riot be limed but improvement of its texture sought by means of green manuring. WOOL RESEARCH WORK. Mr A. H. Cockayne, director of the fields division, outlined tho progress which was being made in the Dominion with wool research work. At its last meeting the board requested Dr. Reakcs when abroad, to inquire into the possibility of securing in England the services of a speci ally trained man to curry on and cxted such work.

A cablegram from Dr. Reakes on the subject was considered, and tne board decided to recommend to the Government that he be Authorised to offer an angagement to a gentleman who was considered eminently suited for the work in view. Dr. Keakes further reported that of the wool sent Home last year to Dr. Barker, of Leeds, for examination, the Romney only had been dealt with, and that Dr. Barker was impressed with its quality and had no fault to find. PLANT BREEDING. The board conferred with the Scientific and Industrial Research Council regarding tho difference of opinion that have arisen concerning the matter of the establishment and control of the proposed plant-breeding and research station, and as a result it is hoped that finality in the matter will be reached at an early date. At the present time the plant breeding and plant disease research work of the officers of the Department of Agriculture is being hampered for the want of more adequate faculties, and tho \ Board of Agriculture is most anxious that this unsatifactory position should be remedied at the earliest possible date. PUBLICITY. Members generally expressed the view that farmers were not as fully informed as they should be concerning the multifarious activities of the Department of Agriculture, and that the large fund of valuable information possessed by its officers was not being disseminated to the best a,d vantage. The board therefore decided to recommend the appointment of a publicity officer whose duty it would be to see that the fullest possible information on all phases of the Department’s work is made available to the farming community through the medium of the newspapers circulating in tbo Dominion.