BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1927, Page 4

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

WELLINGTON, Dee. 5. At the quarterly meeting of the Bottrd of Agriculture bold in Wellington the following matters were considered : .MINERAL CONTENTS OF PASTURES.

Sir .lames Wilson explained that the question of the mineral composition of pastures was becoming a very important problem and occupying a large amount of attention in other countries.. They) Were beginning t:; learn that though a pasture looked good it might not contain the necessary amount of mineral matter which was essential for the domestic animals' well-being. He mentioned the fact that in some districts snperphosphat'* was ceasing to give the result which had been hitherto associated with its use. ft had set hint' wondering whether some element other than phosphorus was necessary. He had asked All- Aston. Chief Chemist (directing the mineral research in pasture) to address the Board oil the matter. Air Aston read the scheme of research which has been drawn up by himself in < onsultation with Dr Ecnkos, and which included the investigation of three deficiency deceases and one disease which has not been proved to he a deficiency disease. all of which are undoubtedly duo to the pasture which is the sole diet of the animals, ruminants in all rases). Dr Orr, the Director of the Rowett. Research Institute, has approved of the scheme, staling that in his opinion the scheme was a good one and should fit in well with the joint pasture work within the Empire.

Afr Aston described each type of deficiency under investigation, and answered a number of questions. With reference to superphosphate, feufarmers realised the triple quality ot this valuable manure which, in addition to supplying phosphorus, also supplies large quantities of calcium and sulphur, all three being elements essential to the nutrition of the animal. The response ol crops and pasture and the stock grazed oil them to superphosphate might therefore not always he solely due to the phosphoric acid, if it was due to the calcium or sulphur there were cheaper ways of supplying them than in super. In any case there should always (except in the ease of sandy lands) be ciiougit carbonate ot lime in the soil to combine will: the superphosphate and prevent the reversion to insoluble. unavailable compounds of iron and alumina. Sandy land should not he limed ,bti( improvement of its texture sought by means of green manuring. RESEARCH AND INSTR UCTUIN VL WORK IN REGARD TO WOOLS. . Alt A. 11. Cockayne, Director of the Fields Division, outlined the progress which was being made in the Dominion with wool research work. At its last meeting the Board requested Dr Reakes w hen abroad, to enquire into tlie possibility ol securing in England tjie services ol a specially trained man to carry on and ext-md such work.

A cablegram from Dr Reakes on the subject was considered, and the Board decided (o recommend to Hi:.Government that he lit* authorised to offer an engagemnt to a gentleman wh: was considered eminently suited for the work in view. Dr Reakes further reported that of the wool sect Home last year to Dr Barker. of I.reds.- for examine.: inti, the Romney only had been dealc with. and that Mr Barker was impressed with its quality and had no fault to find. CENTR \i. DEV FLORA! ENT KARA!, AVERAROA.

The position of the Central Development Farm at Weraroa was carefully considered and it was decided to recommend to the Government that the farm he sold and the proceeds set apart for the development of the experimental and research work of the Department of Agriculture. PLANT-BREEDING AND RESEARCH STATION. The Board conferred with the Scientific and Industrial Research Conned regarding the differences of opinion that have arisen concerning the mailer of the establishment anil control of the - proposed plant-lu-eeding an I research station, and as a result iris hoped that- finality in the matter will he reached at an early date. At the present time the plant-breeding and plant disease research work of the officers of the Department of Agriculture is being hampered for the want of more adequate facilities, and the Board of Agriculture is most anxious that tin's unsatisfactory position should ho remedied at the earliest possible date.

PUBLICITY. Members generally expressed the view that farmers were not as fully informed as they should be concerning the multifarious activities of the Department of Agriculture, and that the large fund of valuable information possessed by -its officers was not being disseminated to the best advantage. The Board therefore decided to recommend the appointment of a publicity officer whose duty it would he to see. that the fullest possible information on all phases of the. Department’s work is made available to the farming community through the medium of the newspapers circulating in the Dominion.