ELECTRICITY ON THE FARM

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1929, Page 3

ELECTRICITY ON THE FARM

SOME NOVEL USES' SUGGESTED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. The Committee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research recently set up to deal' with the relationship of electricity 'to agriculture, at its recent meeting, traversed the main phases of the matter. The application, of electricity to general farming aerations was one subject of discussion, and covered a wide scope. In. respect to sheepshearing the opinion was expressed by several members of' the Committee, that the present cost of a sheepshearing outfit appeared to be excessive, and that a' larger demand would arise if the price were brought down to what appeared to he a reasonable one for the amount of work involved in the machine. It was decided to make enquiries as to whether a smaller and simpler outfit could not he obtained for use by small farmers. It was considered by the Committee that there are many places in New Zealand where, with water at a comparatively little depth, irrigation would he worth while. It was therefore resolved to obtain information on this point. Threshing, ploughing, and other allied farm operations could all be aided by the use of electricity, it was stated, and a special sub-committee was set up to deal with this- side of • the question. Electricity in dairy-farming operations also came under consideration. Other possible uses of electricity discussed included electric motors for fruit spraying, the use of electricity in drying tobacco, and dehydrating fruits, its use in greenhouse heating, and in heating the ground as a means of preventing frosts in orchards and as a heater for incubators. The various uses of electricity for domestic, purposes wore also under review. Certain poultry-farmers, it was stated, were already investigating the advantages of having electric lights in hen houses, in order to start the liens scratching earlier in the day. Another novel use for electric light, it was suggested, would be to use it

to the beetle ;‘o£:.>, the grasigrub, thereby luring it to its doom in an insectocuto.r. The Committee’s deliberations on these subjects were generally of a preliminary 'nature, in order that a comprehensive programme of investigational work could be drawn up.