FLOWER “DERBY.”

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1927, Page 3

FLOWER “DERBY.”

RACES BETWEEN PLANTS. Races between rival “ teams ” ot p.'.ints and flowers are to be run ill England this summer at University College, Southampton, and at Kew Gardens, to test for greenhouses ana garden frames a new type of glass which, unlike ordinary window glass admits the ultra-violet rays of the

At Kew, the Office of Works have decided to equip half an experimental greenhouse with the glass and half with ordinary glass, and a typical selection of plants and flowers will he duplicated in each section. A similar course wii'l be followed with a wide variety of plants, including radishes, sunflowers, and beans, in the large glass corridor with a southern aspect fronting the new botanical research laboratory at Southampton, which has cost fJS(K)O. The aim of both experiments is to find out whether it is possible, hv the use of vitnglass to obtain any such advantages as earlier cropping, better quality, heat saving, better colour, hardier constitution, and greater resistance to disease in plants grown in green-houses or indoors. The glass, which is the invention of Mr F. E. Lamplough, M.A.. formerly Fellow of Trinity College. Cambridge, is made in the works from which all the famous Crystal Palace glass came.

in spite of the temporary .setback received during the past season the dairying industry is still the greatest in Now Zealand to-day, and we feel sure that it may lie made the most remunerative .taking one year with another. No doubt there are many dairy farmers who are passing through exceedingly difficult times and must continue to do so for a while yet, hut with courage and determination and with concentration of efforts upon those matters which are close at hand and within their own disposition they will win through. Tf the coming season proves as good as it promises at present most of them will have overcome the worst of their troubles by the time it is over.—“Taranaki Herald.”