RATIONAL FARMING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1024, 15 July 1930, Page 11

RATIONAL FARMING

SCIENTIFIC GUIDANCE IN NEW ZEALAND DR. MARSDEN’S OPINIONS Special to THE SUN WELLINGTON, Today. Important points in scientific study to improve farming methods in New Zealand were given by Dr. E. Marsden, secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in an address to businessmen in Wellington. Dr. Marsden advanced > the opinion that New Zealand producers should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the climate of this country. There was abundant energy from the sun, and, with a well-distributed rainfall, this energy could be used to a greater extent in developing marketable foodstuffs. The relation of climate to soil, plant and animal life needed to be understood more fully, and its effect on the “processing” of agricultural produce had to be considered. The whole basis of farming was in soil characteristics, but only recently had science made practical headway in judging the complex variations of soil. It was not merely a question of chemical elements in the soil, but their availability and interaction with physical, chemical and biological conditions, modified by climate. Other countries were engaged in classifying and mapping soils as a basis for cropping and fertiliser programmes, rational land occupation and even taxation. New Zealand had passed from extensive to intensive use of land. Rational guidance concerning the land characteristics of the country was needed now. The greatest area of undeveloped land was in the centre of the North Island, where unique soil conditions prevailed. It was surmised that volcanic ash limited the use of land by causing serious stock diseases of animal nutritional character. Already, a survey of considerable portions of the area had been achieved to prove the relation between soil type and disease incidence. All the soils of New Zealand had, in more or less acute forms, similar problems awaiting solution. IMPROVING PASTURES New Zealand was on the threshold of rationalisation methods, and their application to pastures. The movement, Dr. Marsden thought, was capable, with necessa.ry modifications in grassland management, of doubling the capacity of the better pastures within less than a decade. The position of second-class land had not yet been touched, but there would be immense possibilities when the large proportion of the superficial area ,of the Dominion included in this category was considered. Tho proper use of better pastures made high-class stock necessary, and the same principle of survey had to be extended to New Zealand’s animal resources. Herd-testing associations had been successful. These movements were leading to standards of production. There was little doubt that, at present, farming in New Zealand and elsewhere did not, in general, yield 5 per cent, on capital. Because of rapid changes in world production and requirements, the doctrine of placing New Zealand’s land products on a reasonably broad basis had to bo recognised. Centralisation had been taking place in recent years in the factory production of the produce of the land, but there was still much to be done toward rationalisation when overlapping in obtaining supplies for dairy, meat and bacon factories was considered. One of the principal features today in rationalisation was the free pooling of technical knowledge in the interests of the industry as a whole. This was particularly evident in the dairy industry. Grading systems had educational as well as marketing value. A POLITICAL ISSUE U.S.A. WHEAT PROBLEM WASHINGTON, Monday. The question of wheat is fast assuming the proportions of an important political problem. Tho stalwart Republican State of Kansas is in an uproar over the failure of the Federal Farm Board to act, in face of prices which give the farmer less than the cost of production, and with the exertion of heavy pressure from within the Republican Party to get the Administration to spend a large amount of money to “peg” the wheat price, to enable farmers to obtain a profit in the present harvest. Mr. Arthur Capper, Republican member of the Senate for Kansas, will ask tho President, Mr. Hoover, to make the Grain stabilisation Corporation purchase 100,000,000 bushels immediately and withhold it from the market. Meanwhile the Congressional elections are approaching and the Democrats are stressing the alleged ineffectiveness of Mr. Hoover’s farm relief policy. They say that 10 years’ trial of Republican prosperity is enough. FRUIT SALES SLOW MARKETS IN LONDON In London, the market for New Zealand fruit is slow, according to the cablegram sent on July 12 by the High Commissioner in London to the Department of Agriculture. Soft fruits are abundant. Heavy supplies of Tasmanian apples are realising low prices. The present quotations for New Zealand apples are: Dougherty. 8s 6d to 11s: Stunner. 6s to 10s; others, unchanged. The lower figures refer to large fruit, which is difficult to sell. Other markets are:—Tallow. —There was a fair demand at the auction this week, when 930 packages were offered and 630 sold. Present quotations are:—Beef, sweet and/or mixed, 27s Gd to 355; fair to good, 24s Gd to 27s Gd; mixed, fair to good, 24s to 275; dark to dull, 23s to 23s Gd; others, unchanged. Forward shipments are quiet. Hemp.—The Manila market advanced early this week, but has been easier since the closing. Value for K grade, July-September shipment, is £23; J grade, £24; K grade is now the standard grade here, and will be quoted in the future. The sisal market is quiet.. Fair average quality, JulySeptember shipment, sold at £24 15s. The New Zealand market is dull and nominal values are unchanged, on the basis of high fair £24. No first hand sales are reported.

Wool. —The sales continue to be well attended, with opening rates maintained.