Agricultural Conference.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7876, 19 July 1905, Page 2

Agricultural Conference.

I'I'UST DAY'S WiOCKKIUMJB

(Per Press Association.; WELLINGTON, Julv 18 Ihe annual eonlerenee of delegates f'om Agricultural nnrt Pastoral Societies openedto-day. Tho acting chairman (Mr 1-attulto) tx.nu.rked ot We improvements in farming jucthoiis, but ».ud there whs still room lor improvement. The prospects fur dairy inrming- were good in tho imv.li, and the industry seemed likely to go on improving till jit equalled, i! not surpassed, ;Uln( . of frmm meal. Although pastoralists might not continue to get the present high prices, he still thought sheep farming would iong continuo proiitable, despite the competition of Argentina and Australia).

Air J. 0. Wilson was elected Presi. dent. At the Agricultural Conference today, the Hon. J. 1). Ormond moved that tho Government be urged to inako arrangements to sterilise bones in New Zealand instead of attempting to do so at the port of sfoip-i-."irt. He said the matter was of >uch importance both to stock and human life that he felt it had not been properly djcalt with. The discussion .which ensued branch,<l off to the question of using artifi'■ial bones. Mr H. 1). McLean (Hawke's Bay), moved "that the Department of Agriculture be requested to carry out "xpi'r.'monts with artiticial manures ■ ihi'i- than bone, with a view to their ism: instead of bono manures." Mr Aston, chemist to the Department «f Agriculture, said the natural phosphates /in New Zealand wprc not to be cetmpared with bones in any way, lexcept that theyi' contained' phosphate »f lime. Professor^-Lowrio, Principal of Lincoln College, declared that the colony could do perfectly well without bonedust at all. Mr McLean's motion was carried, and the Hon. Orrnomil's motion |was also'agreed to. On the motion of Mr J'attulto (Otago), it 'was resolved "that this Conference take steps to. ensure that more information lie given to farmer* by means of various experiments; (1) by approaching the Department of Agriculture tp establish better experimental stations, and (2) by endeavouring to secure a system of experiments to be carried outlay termers themselves." The mover drew particular .attention to what was being done in this direction in Canada. The question of eradiicatipg ergot was introduced by ■Mr R. 1 D. McLean, who said tho pest was spread-. ing more and more in Hawke's Hay. Nothing, was done lit the matter by tho Conference. Mr McLean moved) "tliat mora stringent means be taken to enforce tr'to provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act, especially on unoccupied Crown or native land's," The resolution' was carried. A resolution was also agreed'to at--tinning the desirableness of experi- ' nronling with Canadian thistle, to de- ' tcrmine whether it is practicable .to devise some remedy 'to cope, witraf it.