Farm Scientists

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 4

Farm Scientists

MORE CO-OPERATION URGED BLENHEIM, Jan. 28. Tho opinion that the field was open •for more collaboration and co-operation among agricultural scientists of New Zealand and Australia was expressed by Dr. A. E. V. Richardson, director of the Waite Agricultural Institute. Adelaide, who, in company with Dr. B. T. Dickson, the head of the plant research division, Canberra, is visiting New Zealand and has spent some days at the Cawthron Institute, Nelson. Dr. Richardson stated that Australia had already taken advantage of the training facilities at Palmerston North to send an officer to the Dairy Re search Institute for a period of IS months to two years. That provided an example of a scheme for interchanging officers which, he thought, would prove to be eminently desirablo. in fact, the co’-operation of scientists in tho two countries might have an effect in obtaining more co-operation in other fields. Both Dr Dickson and, Dr Richardson had been much impressed with the work of the Cawthron Institute and were glad that after the Science Congress at Auckland they had been able to visit tho institute. It had made wonderful progress in a short time, said Dr Richardson, and its work exercised a wide influence. Its value had been strikingly demonstrated through the use of fertilisers in orchards in the Motucka hills. The visitors had been highly impressed with the way in which second class pasture land was being brouga almost to a state of first-class land through the liberal application of superphosphate and the use of appropriate seed mixtures. From their observations in various parts of New Zealand it seemed that there were good opportunities for the development and improvement of pastures. Speaking of tobacco crops Dr. Dickson said that the industry was particularly interesting because of its newness, but there was no doubt that many problems would have to be overcome before reasonable yields and high grade quality could be ensured. Investigation work carried out extensively in Australia and the question was one which lent itself to collaboration between the two countries.