BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1923, Page 3

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

A meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held in Wellington recently, when the undermentioned matters were the subject of consideration: — Stock Breeding Practice:

The President reported that in response to the request of the Franklin A. and P. Society for information about the breedißg of farm animals on scientific lines (and especially with refer"enee to the in-breeding of stock) that several members of (he Board had collected a mass of information on the methods that had been adopted by the most successful breeders in various Irarls of the world. -The most valuable if these were embodied in letters received by him from the late Mr James Little, uue of th« first breeders of Corriedales. All this information had been circulated before the meeting. A lengthy discussion on the various systems of breeding of animals took place, during which Mr AV. D. Hunt, who was present at the invitation of the Board, read a most valuable paper giving the results of his experience. He made special reference to the Mondelian law;: and discussed their bearing on the prac tical breeding of farm animals. Mi W. Perry also gave much valuable information regarding sheep-breeding. Reference was also made to the very comprehensive Bulletin on the subject published by Professor Pearl, of Maine Agricultural Station, U.S.A.. on the •' Physiology of Breeding with special reference to Dairy Cattle"; the reports of the Cambridge University, and ol tho Special Joint Committee set up by the Highland Society and the Royai Agricultural Society of Great Britain, to deal with "Research on Animal Breeding." It was decided to forward the infor mation already collected to the Frank lin Association, and to obtain the above-mentioned reports with a view to republishing the results in New Zen land. It was further resolved to take ' steps to obtain permission to publish Mr Little's letters. | The Cull Cow and Scrub Bull:

It was agreed that the proposal to make the licensing, branding, or spewing of unprofitable animals compulsory was not yet practicable, but that tin A. and I'. Associations, Herd Testing and Breed Societies, and Dairy Companies should be asked to assist in an active propaganda against the use of inferior animals as sires and the dis couragement of the sale of cows as milkers when they had been found to be unprofitable. An article by Mr A. K. Young, MK.C.V.S., on the question of the disposal of these animals was carefully considered and appreciated, Proposal to Establish Farm School: Lengthy consideration was given to the question of tho training to be given at, and of the staff necessary tor. a farm school, which it was hoped the Minister of Agriculture would be able to establish in the North Island when the financial condition of the Dominion warranted the expenditure. Fertilisers: A statement was placed before the Board showing the importations of Nauru and Ocean Island phosphates up to 31st December. 1022. This statement showed that there had been a pro gresiive increase in importations, am! that last year the Dominion imported practically 16 per cent, of the year's

output. Administration of Noxious Weeds Ac

The question of County Councils tak

iug a more active part in the administration of the Noxious Weeds Act was the next subject dealt with, the Minister having expressed a wish to secure an expression of the Board's opinion thereon. A recommendation was framed ou the lines of County Councils being enabled to administer control of

noxious weeds. Control of Deer Herds

In response to an invitation to be represented at a Conference, to be held L at an early date, regarding the methods to be adopted in dealing effectively with the increase in deer herds, the Board elected Messrs J. Begg (South Island) and E. D. McLeunau (North X Island) as its representatives. i Economic Treatment of Drifting Sands, j The Director General wrote indicating that the question of the economic ;; treatment of drifting sandhills, as 1 brought up by Mr K. W. Dalryiuple, ]■; was receiving the attention of the De- j ] partment. The necessity of giving i farmers advice as to the proper rue- | thods to be adopted in farming these i t lands was stressed, and it was decided i to request the Director-General to ar- j ; range for an officer to visit the district ' for the purpose of dealing with this j i particular aspect of the question. I Moa Seed Farm: | ' A letter was received from the Moa Seed Farm Association, covering news- , paper extracts dealing briefly with the operations of the Moa Seed Farm. Mr J. Begg. who is a member of the Association, amplified the information and acquainted the Board very fully with details of th/s work being carried out, which was considered very satisfactory, j Virginian Quail: I The opinion of the Board was solicited concerning an application for permission to import 100 brace of Virginian quail. It was decided to secure further information before making a definite recommendation on the subject.. . ££",{