AGRICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1927, Page 4

AGRICULTURE

MEETING OF BOARD. A meeting ol the Boarti of Agrietiltui'o was held at Wellington recently, the agenda paper embracing a wide range of subjects, of which the following were the most important. : ag ßfcri/rri! al edfcation. 'I ho president (Sir James Wilson), "ho is the representative of the Board -’>i the Agricultural College Council, briefly outlined the progress that was -being made in connexion with the establishment of the Agricultural College at Palmerston North. Jle intimated that an agreement had been reached as to the measure of dairy research work to he undertaken by the College authorities and the Department of Agriculture, and that there was every reason to hope that an equally satisfactory result would lie arrived at with respect to the status of Lincoln College. Arrangements were in hand for the purchase of stock, etc., for the | College farm and the Council was I making nil necessary arrangements to push on with the establishments of the College with the least possible delay, lie.also reported that the Chairman of the Council had placed before the people of Hawke’s Bay a proposal that they should agree to an annual contri. hut ion from the funds of the Howard Estate to be made to the College for the purpose of research work in regard to wool and animal breeding. After a brief discussion, the Board unanimously decided to urge the larmers of Hawke’s Bnv to endorse the ,

proposal. , - WOOL DETERIORATION. The president reported that lie had received a number of replies to the circular memorandum issued by the Board on the question of wool deterioration, but that sufficient information "’as not yet available to justify it ill issuing a report on the subject. A number of samples of wool were submitted and examined by members. It was decided that further steps should he taken to educate farmers in the best methods of wool-growing and in the selection of their breeding sheep. To this end the Board considered that the Agricultural College Council should

appoint a lecturer on the subject and make the wool question a special feature in the training of .students attending the College, and that in the meantime the very valuable educational work now in the hands of Air AY. Perry. Air A. FI. Cockayne, and the Department of Agriculture, should he continued and extended as far as circumstances would permit. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

Full information was placed before the Board in regard to the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe, and the regulations made for the prevention of the introduction of the dissenso into the Dominion were reviewed. The Board decided that it could not recommend any relaxation of the regulations except in so far as the importation of cattle front the Island of Jersey was concerned. This island still enjoyed freedom front the disease, and in the circumstances the Board decided to recommend that cattle he allowed entry from there, provided arrangements could be made for them to he transhipped in open water without landing in Great Britain. CATTLE FROM AA[ERICA.

All application for a permit to import cattle front the United States of America was considered, the Board deciding to recommend that it he declined.

adulteration of pollard. A statement fits placed before the Board showing the results ut analyse-, of pollard samples carried out hy the chemist of the Department. As these analyses showed conclusively that gross adulteration was taking place. the Board decided to recommend that immediate legislation he passed to put a stop to the practice.