SCIENCE’S AID

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1930, Page 7

SCIENCE’S AID

VALUABLE RESEARCH.

■WHEAT, MEAT AND DAIRY

PRODUCE,

i i.'T’” WELLINGTON, June 25. “'Anyone who has -to do with pre-sent-day farming in New Zealand will realise the imporant part science and scientific investigation will play in the farming of the future,” said Air \V\ Perry (president of the New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society) in his address to the annual conference to-day. They had many problems to look into, Air Perry said, some of which would be solved quickly, while others would take years of study to get useful results. They had to look more than ever to the scientist for assistance both in growing and preparing produce for overseas markets.

At present a number of diferent varieties of wheat introduced iron, all the countries of the world were being tried at Lincoln with a view to

acclimatisation and to finding some particular variety better suited to New Zealand conditions than were the present established types. The

Wheat Research. Institute at Christchurch had co-operated with the Plant Research Station in the development of wheat breeding selection and field experimental trials but the initial wheat breeding experiments had not given such promising results as were hoped for. The results clearly indicated that the experiments must be carried on at a much greater massed scale than • hitherto.

The Dairy Research Institute of Palmerston North had been concentrating largely upon solving the problem of openness in cheese. No great progress of a positive kind had been made toward devising a means for overcoming this difficulty. 'Similar efforts were being made to improve the quality and value of butter and wool. Arrangements had been made for Mr G. K. Sidey, of the staff of Lincoln College, to proceed to England, where he would take part in an investigation of the quality of New Zealand wools, ascertaining the uses to which they could best be put. During the year the most comprehensive technical examination of New Zealand mutton and lamb ever carried out was undertaken at a number of selected freezing works throughout the Dominiory. The main object of the work was concerned with the loss of bloom and the loss of weight occurring in New Zealand lamb and mutton. It was anticipated that* the report on these investigations would be issued early in the spring, Quick freezing was also 'being investigated and might result in radical changes in the present system of retailing meat.

Reference was made to the development of the pork industry. The president said it was very pleasing to note the improvement shown in the following export figures:— Cwt. Value. £ 1927 ....„ 86,227 333,381 1928 121,658 406,010 1929 169,480 633,027