CATHRON INSTITUTE

Shannon News, 25 January 1927, Page 3

CATHRON INSTITUTE

u tensor § Explains Apart from the bare facts that a bequest of £240,000 was left by a generous citizen of NelsonMr. Cawlhron—for the foundation of the Cawthron Institute, and that agricultural experiments of some kind or other are being carried out, little is known of the work and activities of this institution. A representative of -the "Times" was, therefore, doubly anxious to obtain an interview with Professor T. H. Easterfield, M.A., P.L.D., during his visit to Palmerston North, in order to obtain an insight in the research work which Is being carried on by a number of scientists in the Nelson district. The Cawthron Institute, as at present constituted, is the outcomo of the recommendations made in tho report of tho Cawthron Commission in 1917, of which Sir James Wilson was chairman and Professor Easterfield was a member. Tho will, under which £240,000 was left for tho foundation of an institute, was not clear as to details, and except that provisions were mado that certain holders of certain mblic offices wero to be executors and trustees, few directions were given as to how tho money should be *pent. It was finally decided to create a research institute, its work bearing on agriculture in its widest sense, at tho same time paying particular attention to the subject of fruit growng. Professor Easterfiold was appointed director of tho Institute in 919 (giving up his Professorship of Chemistry at Victoria College), and after a great deal of organising and \nitial work generally, 1921 saw the official opening of the Cawthron Institute. Tho Crawthron Institute building, aid Professor Easterfield, consists of a large private residence standing in three acres of ground, formerly the property of Mr. John Sharp, an old 'identity and a name to be conjured with on the West Coast. This building contains the offices, laboratories, museum and library of the Institute. The staff, all told, consists of fourteen workers inclusive of assistants. Scientific Soil Survey. Our agricultural chemist, continued the Professor, is Mr. T. Rigg M.Sc. 8.A., who was recently appointed a member of the Advisory Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. Riggs' speciality is research in soils and crops and he has proved himself a great friend of the farmers and fruitgrowers. By means of an exhaustive and comprehensive soil survey of the Waimea County we have been enabled to consolidate our knowledge as to the distribution of different types of soil, showing what each type is suited for and how each type of soil must be treated, so that maximum results may bo obtained. Thus, some forms of soil, carrying less than one-third of a sheep per acre, has been converted into three sheep per acre country at a cost that proved satisfactory and profitable to the producer. The greatest difficulty we have encountered, explained the Professor, was not in converting poor land into first class pasture, but in discovering the means of enabling tho owners of tho land to carry out the improvements. There are, no doubt, farmers, and particularly owners of smaller farms, who have the means of undertaking these improvements, but on the other hand, there are many others who, owing to financial difficulties are not in a position to reap the full benefits from the knowledge made available byo scientific research. Research Hampered By Finance.

Extensive experiments have alse been carried out in connection with tomatoes and raspberries, said our informant, and very substantial increases have followed tho systematic (op-dressing of these plants. Again, lucerno growing experiments have been carried out in all types of sol. throughout the Waimea County and information so gained has enabled us to give reliable advice to sheep and dairy farmers, with the result that a great extension ha s taken place in tho growing of this valuable fodder. In short, remarked the Professor, the soil survey of our country is so perfect and complete that we can, at the shortest notice, givo farmers the fullest information regarding the nature of the soil, the quantity ot lime and fertiliser required, and the suitability or otherwise for certain crops, etc. The Introduction of "Apheiinus." - Dr. R. J. Tillyard, who just returned from a tour of investigation abroad, is our chief biologist and entomologist. His introduction of apheiinus—the deadly enemy of the destructico woolly aphis—has proved of quite extraordinary value to apple growers. After the extensive destruction caused by this insect pest, it is to-day difficult to find an orchard in any of the chief orchard areas in New Zealand, where woolly aphis thrives, and tho position has been completely reversed to vhat is was five years ago. It is anticipated that similar results will eventually be obtained in the suppression of many other types of insect pests as well as noxious weeds. To assist this work the Empire Marketing Board has recently agreed to contribute £2OOO per annum for five years, on the condition that the New Zealand Government contributes £IOOO and the Qawthron Inatttuto £IOOO. Black Spot And Brown Rot. Our chief mychologist lfl Dr. K&th-:..-fc—i_-. ■■ .-:■■

jeen«CJurtls, M.A., M.SJJ.. continued : professoY/Easterfield, whose work fai "principalis devoted to she study 6t fungal diseases of plants! \ the suppres* sion of which b pecuiiarjy difficult on account of the\diminuti|fenes3 ol the fgpor&g land Stfcfl .miraculous number in fci tne|*rl)rm favourable conditions. Her study lot black upot in apples and pears andjtorown rot in store-fruit as well as certain dlßeasei of tomatoes and hops have been of very distinct use. owing to the verymuch increased knowledge obtained.': Particular mention should also be made of the cooi store experiments which have proved so successful, that growers now feel little hesitation in. keeping their Pturmers in cool store up till November, which was practice ally impossible a few years ago. A Virile Institution. As director ot tho Cawthron Institute and administrative head of the Institution, Professor Easterners work and responsibilities are of a~ wide and varied nature. He has cently visited Taranaki in response a request for advice and is at presentinvestigating certain problems in connection with the tlax industry. Th<s, splendid record put up by the Instl* tufe in its short existence indicates anj extraordinary virility and moro than : justifies the trustees in the action", which they took in adopting th«i recommendations made by the Cawthron Commission in 1917. ]