BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1791, 19 February 1918, Page 1

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The Board of Agriculture held lengthy meetings on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, when many matters of national importance were discussed. There .was a full attendance of members at the meeting, and the president, Sir James G. Wilson, was in the chair. The Board had a lengthy conference with the National Efficiency Board, and discussed with them the provision of accommodation for married men on farms and stations; the training and settlement of returned soldiers on the land, seed growing, and re-afforestation.

Rc-afforestation. —The question of forestry was discussed by the two Boards, and it was decided to again address the Prime Minister on the necessity for the creation of a separate Forestry Department under a scientifically trained forester. It was pointed out that the groat work in front of him would he to develop a policy of conservation of the small remaining area of native forests-to he left in New Zealand, and the regeneration of such portion of land which had been hush and was now useless for settlement; to underplant hush where suitable areas are available, and to continue the planting of other areas suitable for the purpose. At (he dose of the meeting a Joint deputation of the Board of Agriculture, the Council of the. Forestry League, and others waited upon the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister to urge that something should be done on the lines suggested.

Accommodation for Married Men on Farms. —The question of providing better accommodation on farms for married men, with the view of reducing the drift of farm labour from (he country to the town Avas very exhaustively dealt with, and it was pointed out that oAving to the large increase of indebtedness and other burdens that have been taken by' the Dominion,' the only chance of maintaining the standard of living Avon Id be by a rapid and sound expansion in (he productivity of the country, and that a married man provided with a suitable house, Avith moderate conveniences, having a plot of ground sufficient for a vegetable garden, and land sufficient to keep a coav, pigs and foAvls, is comparatively well off in rural districts even if only earning a small actual cash Avage. A scheme to facilitate the erection of cottages for married men on farms, Avhich had been drafted by Mr Hunt on similar lines to the provisions as to Avorkers’ dwellings in the toAvn, avus adopted, and a further proposal to initiate some small village settlements in the backblocks was formulated with the vieAv of securing advantages of friendly intercourse and mutual assistance betAveen the families living in the village and so that the individuals occupying these cottages would not feel tied to a single employer, and Avould, Avithin moderate limits, be able to carry their labour to the best market, or at any rate, Avould have the feeling that they could. Village communities of this class might have the advantages of having a co-operative store, school, and hall accommodation, and other facilities which avouUl not be obtainable by those resident in, detached' cottages situated on their employers’ properties.

Training and Settlement of Soldiers on the Land.—The joint Boards also discussed the opening up of erovvn and Native lands, the cutting, up of private estates, the best tenure for leasehold lands, and the purchase and subdivision of suitable land for the settlement of returned soldiers. The question of how to meet the ease of returned soldiers who prefer to live in the country and who wore willing to take »/) some light farm work but were unable for health reasons to undertake very heavy work, was also carefully considered. Various suggestions as to the best ?ije|hpds of helping men of this type were put forward, and it was finally decided to make a strong appeal to Urn formers through the National Efficiency fto/irds of Trustees and the various Committees I)f Advice throughout the Dominion to take returned soldiers without farming experience, and enable them to gain a knowledge of general farming work. ' Seed-growing. —The question of growing seeds in the Domimon was also discussed at great length. >&£r Brown, Director of the Fields Division, and Mr Cockayne, biologist of the Department of Agriculture, joined in the discussion as to what might be done in this direction. Mr Cockayne pointed out that the practicability of obtaining seeds depended largely on-the duration of the war, and the unsettled period that might follow; but it was evident that the difficulty of securing adequate supplies at the present time was very acute, and it was quite likely that ■ prices for such seed would remain high for some

time after hostilities had ceased. Various members of the Board of Agriculture detailed their experiences in the growing of seeds, and expressed the opinion that in spite of the competition of Europe this branch of farming may be made a very remunerative one. It was decided to request the Department of Agriculture to publish some more information in the Journal of Agriculture as to the best methods of growing and collecting the particular kinds’ of seeds for which there was a demand in the Dominion. It was also agreed that the Government should be recommended,, for (he purpose of encouraging the growth of red clover seed, to import a number of the very liest class of humble bee, particularly the x’ed tailed bee and one known as the bronze bee.

Shipment of Wool Packs and Corn Ssteks from Calcutta. —It was reported to the Board that as the result of enquiries which had been made in regard to the shipment of wool packs and corn sacks to the Dominion, the Union Steamship Company had written, staling (hat a vessel had already left Calcutta this year with corn sacks and wool packs, another was leaving at an early date, and that altogether there would be six sailings during liic year, so (hat there was every reason to believe (hat there Avould be an ample supply of both wool packs and corn sacks for New Zealand requirements. It was hoped that nothing would interfere with the arrival of wool packs earlier than last year. Far-marking and Branding of Stock. —This question was also discussed, and a sub-committee was set up to report on (he scheme submitted by the Live-stock Division of the Department of Agriculture for the ear-marking and branding of stock. Amongst other subjects dealt with were: —Uniform, stud books and National Live-stock Record Association; proposed legislation to prohibit the exportation of .inferior sheep from the Dominion; arrangements for the present meat export season; desirability of having the. judging of live-stock at shows taught on the various Experimental Farms; the wheat question; organisation of women labour for farm work; proposed board in connection with Scientifid'-and Industrial Research; and Kitchener Memorial Scholarship.