AGRICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1925, Page 4

AGRICULTURE

MEETING OF BOARD. The Hoard of Agrietulture met. recently in Wellington. NAURU PHOSPHATE. Two communications were received from Air Aston, chemist, of the Agriculture Department, relative to the experiments which are being carried out at the board’s instigation with very finely ground Naiyu phosphates at Mamaku and Wallaceville experimental farms. These reports indicated that although the phosphate was applied only in July last, the results so far obtained fully warranted the expectation that this material will prove superior to anything of the same kind which lias yet been tried. The board was gratified to learn of the execellent results achieved, and considered that the experiments should be extended. The most important aspect, however, in regard to the use of this material was the manulacturing cost and whether it could he. produced in large quantities. The hoard therefore decided to seek information on these points from the Department of Agriculture. DEHORNING OF CATTLE. The Minister of Agriculture wrote acknowledging receipt of the hoard’s communication urging that the dehorning of cattle he made compulsory, and stated that the hoard’s recommendation would receive careful consideration when the legislative programme for the 1925 session of Parliament was being drawn up. WOOL INVESTIGATIONS. In a letter acknowledging receipt of the hoard’s communication relative to the wool investigations being conducted by Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director of the Fields Division, and Mr AY. Perry, the Minister of Agriculture stated that he appreciated the great importance of the work, and that the Department would he pleased to render every possible assistance to those engaged upon it. At the request of the hoard, Mr Coekavne gave an address dealing with the further research work lie had carried out relative to the structure of wool, while Mr J. G. Cook, wool instructor, furnished the hoard with particulars of the sheep breeding experiments now in progress at the Wallaceville experimental farm. The hoard expressed its appreciation of the lucid and admirable addresses given, and passed a hearty vote of thanks to the gentlemen concerned. IVLACKHERRY HOARDS. In reply to the hoard’s recommendation that Blackberry Hoard.-, be established. tbe Minister of Agriculture wrote that the question bad already been given some consideration by himself and tbe responsible officers ol bis department, and that it would be further gone into if it was found that the amendment of the Noxious Weeds Act, made in 192.'!, and the investigation work now in. progress prove insufficient to meet requirements. The members of the board unanimously agreed that the blackberry menace was not being satisfactorily coped with, and that the proposed establishment of Blackberry Hoards was a suggestion well worthy ol serious consideration. Tbe board was of opinion that the question also merited attention as to whether the control ol all noxious weeds should not devolve upon such boards. The following resolution was passed for submission to tbe Munster of Agriculture: “.That legislation be framed to enable Blackberry Hoards to be formed in a similar manner to the small area Rabbit, Hoards established under Part ill. of tbe Rabbit Nuisance Act. IDHB. Tbe question as to whether the operations of the Blackberry Hoards, if established, should be extended to include control of all noxious weeds is also worthy of consideration.” LIBERATION OF OPOSSU MS. The Director-General of Agriculture referred to the board for its opinion of an application from (lie Auckland Acclimatisation Society lor permission to liberate opossums in tbe bush country between To Kuiti and West Coast. The board decided that it would like to ascertain some local opinion on the question he lure it could recommend that the Acclimatisation Society’s request be acceded to, but pointed out that the oppossimis were already so well established in the hush country ( f Taranaki that it was only a matter of time before they spread to the Tc Kuiti district, and suggested that in Die circumstances it would lie well to leave to nature the introduction ofj opossums iu the area in question. CATTLE TICK. At the hoards’ request the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture briefly outliv'd the steps being taken by his department for the control of cattle tick. The question of dipping all entitle in affected areas at stated periods was discussed, and the hoard considered that there seemed to be so many difficulties in connection with tbe matter j that it hesitated to recommend com-i pulsory dipping. The hoard gathered as much information ns available relative to the spread of cattle tick in New Zealand, and considered that the following points should he emphasised: fa) That the climate is a most important fne tor, as in the affected areas, the ticks are more prevalent in the hotter districts. (Ii) The New Zealand tick is a different variety from that which has caused tick fever in Queensland and New South Wales. (<■) There is nr. element no fever in New Zealand caused by tick, (d) That dipping, while fairly effective, cannot ho regarded as a means of completely orndic ifiog the tick in hadlv-infested areas. SHEEP DIPPING MATERIALS.

'The suggested registration of shc-cp dipping materials was referred 1 y the Department of Agrieluture t.> the hmr.l for its recommendation. After consideration, the board mine to the decision that registration was warranted in order to prevent worthless mixtures being placed upon the marlast, and recommended that legislation lx* framed on somewhat similar lines to the Fertilisers Act. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

The question of the establishment of an Agricultural College or colleges was the subject of long and earnest discussion. In the opinion of the hoard the position in regard to the establishment of an agricultural college had become exceedingly difficult in view of the very evident parochial attitude manifested by the various districts. The. hoard considered that the establishment of two or three agricultural colleges in the North Island was not warranted at the present time, and it was also a vain hope to expect that the Government would consent to subsidise each college to the extent necessary to establish, equip, anil maintain satisfactory institutions. The following tosolution was finally passed:— ‘‘ Iliat, in the opinion of this board, one College of Agriculture in the North Island would be sufficient for many years, and that the facilities for training at Lincoln College be extended to meet the requirements of the South Island. The board would urge that there be no delay in making a start with this work.” SEED SELECTION. The activities of Lincoln College in the direction of breeding anil selection of pedigree wheat came under discussion, and the board was of opinion that this useful work should be extended, especially in -the direction of producing improved strains of grass, and the board resolved to recoinmend

that the Government grant a further subsidy to Lincoln College to enable the suggested additional work to be undertaken. GROUSE AND SNIPE. An appliaetion from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society for permission to introduce grouse and snipe was referred to the board by the Department of Agriculture. The board replied that it saw no reason to oppose the introduction of these birds but pointed out that all previous attempts to import snipe to this country had been unsuccessful.