BOARD OF AGRICULTUER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1927, Page 4

BOARD OF AGRICULTUER

WELLINGTON, &?pt. (i. The Board of Agriculture met in j Wellington recently, the following

matters, among others, being included in the agenda paper:— . WOOL INVESTIGATIONS. 1 The Board gave careful considera- ; tion to a memorandum outlining cer- : tain phases of wool research prepared by the Department for transmission to the Department of Scientific- and : Industrial Research. The memorandum emphasised the necessity for research on (lie structure and development of wool fibres as an essential I preliminary to form the foundation fin ! which applied researches leading to l really definite instruction should be based. The Board agreed that such preliminary research was extremely 1 important, but certain members were j of opinion that our present knowledge j was sufficient on which to base iti- ! struction outlining the practices ne- . cessnry of adoption to improve our : lower quality wools. Thu feeling was bold that the full study of structure development and structure variation in wool would, when complet- : ed, be of the utmost value, but that j its completion was necessarily a mat- : ter of considerable time and that i apart from definite scientific work it ; was essential to make sheep-farmers better acquainted with wool matters generally. Therefore tbo Board, although fully agreeing to the necessity for sustained scientific endeavour with regard to wool, was anxious to see further instruction carried out on the knowledge that had boon gained by the Departmental officers and others during the past few years. 'lt was resolved to recommend that the Dcparment should meanwhile continue its instructional work on ihe best

j lines in the light of existing knowI ledge, and to ask Dr Reakes when in j -Great Britain to obtain as much inj formation as possible from Professor j Barker, of Leeds, and Dr Crow, of the Animal Research Station at Eilini burgh, and to make enquiries as to ! the possibility of securing a suitable man to assist in the work of investi--1 gation and instruction in New Zea- : land. j FARM ECONOMICS. I Mr E. J. Fawcett, M.A. (Camb.). . who is in charge of the Farm Economies Branch of the Fields Division, outlined tho progress that was being, made in the collection and tabulation of data pertaining to production and casts. Ho'intimated that in regard to sheep tbc Department had been able to secure n. large amount of valuable information from professionally kept accounts in respect of tho pure hillcountry sheep-grazing district situated in Coolt, AVaikohu, Pawn, and Matakoa Counties, and the date was in the- course of tabulation.

In regard to dairying he said that ono group of 35 farms situated in the Pinko County had been completely surveyed and data pertaining to the 1926-27 season collected. This was also in process of being tabulated, and it was expected that the results would bo icady for publication at an early date. A similar survey was being conducted in regard to one group of farms in Raglan County, and arrangements had been made to survey another three groups in the Waikato during tho next three months. Continuing, Mr Fawcett said that the financial position of 35 Taranaki farms, for periods of from three to five years, , had been collected from Accountant’s records, and that this information was being supplemented by production figures from factories prior to tabulation. In addition to the foregoing the production figures for some 2000 Taranaki farms for the 1925-20 season had been collected and awaited tabulation, a work of considerable magnitude. The President indicated that the data collected was considered by the Board to be most valuable, and a resolution was passed expressing appreciation of Air Fawcett’s work ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.

The Director-General of Agriculture announced that it had been decided to establish an Animal Husbandry section of the Livestock Division, which section would be under the control of Air J. AfoS. McLinden, At.R.C.V.S.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. The Department reported that information had been received from the High Commissioner that further outbreaks of foot and mouth disease had occurred in England. Dr Reakes stated, in the light of this information, that it seemed likely that sporadic outbreaks would continue to occur, and as the necessity for introducing fresh blood was becoming somewhat urgent in the case of some breeds, it pould seem that consideration would Require to be given to the question of permitting importation to take place under such a system as would eliminate, as far as practicable, the possibility of the disease reaching New Zealand. The authorities in England were anxious to reestablish their ex-

port business and to this end were establishing portal quarantine stations for etock for export. Sir James Wilson stated that the Southdown breeders had expressed a wish to import rams and had enquired whether the present regulations could be relaxed. Australia was permitting the importation of stock through Scotland, but at a recent meeting of stock owners sn Victoria, Colonel Cody had stated that the cost was prohibitive and unless English ports were opened few, if any, importations would take place. It was agreed that the whole question should be 'gone into by Dr Reakos upon his arrival in Great Britain, and he was requested to cable his views on the subject as soon as practicable. HOWARD ESTATE. The suggestion put forward by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Union for the appointment- of a Committee to advise the Government as to how best to deal with the Howard bequest, met with the unanimous approval of the Board. PLANT BREEDING AND RESEARCH. It was decided to recommend that additional facilities for the development of the plant breeding and plant disease research work of the Department of Agriculture should he provided forthwith, and that such work should be carried out under the control of the Department ill the meantime.