BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1927, Page 1

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

MEETING AT WELLINGTON. Y meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held in AVcllington last week, the following subjects, amongst others, appearing on tho agenda paper:—(l) Agricultural education and research. (2) Incidence of foot-and-mouth diseases in Great Britain and Europe, and measures for the protection of the Dominion. (3) AA 7 00 l deterioration. (4) Staining of imported cocksfoot, white clover, and lucerne seed, and (5) Exclusion of agriculture as a subject in the University matriculation examination. AGRICULTURAL EDL-CATI ON AND RESEARCH. The Minister for Agriculture attended the meeting and addressed the Board at considerable length on the the various questions submitted to it for its consideration, particularly the present position as regards the establishment of an agricultural college, and the arrangements necessary for continuing existing research work and developing further research work to the best advantage of the agricultural and pastoral interests. The Board went very exhaustively into these questions, and is submitting its conclusions to the ATinister. FOOT AND AIOUTH DISEASE. AVhile the information furnished by the High Commissioner through the Department of Agriculture indicated that during tho past few months the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease had not been very large, a most disturbing feature was the widespread nature of the infection the disease having been reported from Northamptonshire, Middlesex. Shropshire, Lanarkshire, Kent, Buckinghamshire, AArltshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Essex, Norfolk, Chester, Derbyshire, Oxfordshire. Warwickshire and Staffordshire. In the circumstances t-lic Board decided that it could not advise any relaxation whatever of existing precautionary regulations AVOOL DETERIORATION. Information, placed before the Board indicated beyond doubt that deterioration was taking place in some of tho wool grown in New- Zealand. Two contributing factors appeared to be tho use of inferior rams and a tendency to export too many of tho best ewe lambs. It was resolved to bring the matter under the notice of the various breed societies, and to suggest: (a) That stud flocks be more rigidly inspected, and (b) that no cull rams (amongst Flock Book sheep) he allowed to be sold for breeding purposes. It was further resolved to request tho Department to instruct its inspectors to make special efforts to induce farmers to retain their best ewe lambs for breeding purposes. STAINING OF lAIPORTED SEEDS

The principle of staining imported cocksfoot, white clover, and luoeme seed to distinguish it from locally grown seed was approved, and the Department requested to have the necessary legislation drafted and circulated to members of the Board. AIATRICULATTON EXAMINATION.

The president reported having dispatched the following telegram to the University Council: Board of Agriculture considers that agriculture should he an integral part, in the general system of education, and urges it should not be eliminated from the matriculation subjects.” The action of the president was endorsed unanimously;