AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 67, 9 September 1911, Page 8

AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND

WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT. SURVEY OF THE PAST AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Wellington, Last Night.

In tho course of his Financial Statement last evening, Sir Joseph Ward said':- — The year has shown a very gratifying progress. Tlie all important dairy industry received particular attention, with the object of increasing the profit to the farmer and assure sfci-Il higher quality of the products of that industry. The herd testing associations are being highly appreciated by tho farmer. They have become more than popular. The demand for the establishment of those associations is in ex<ccss of the capacity of the staff of the division available for that purpose. Tlustt testing' associations have demonstrated the most remiarkablo difference between profitable and unprofitable cows. These have been revelations to even the most skilful of 'farmers who are occupied in that industry. The pasteurisation of tni!'k will have a ; most important bearing in the future of tins industry. Tt will assure provision of better quality of dairy exports, and, further, in the view of the 'latest scientific knowledge, this pasteurisation will assure the maintenance of the health of die farm animal nml very materially with the health of the human consumer of meat and milk. Tn this there is one of the principal means tlmt will ultimately provide the control of the white plague, tuberculosis. One of the experimental .farms makes special experiments forage crops especially suitable for milking cattle, and every effort is being mode to encourage the cultivation of that great plant for the dairy farmer, lucerne. As agricultural education is one of the most important subjects affecting the country, at one of the farms a. number of youths and young men are established for training in agricultural practice. .At IVaerensra, in tho Auckland district, on land that was at one time considered useless, but which by cxperitnen/t proved suitable for fruit-growing, a series oif small farms, each about 25 acres in extent, have l>ee.7i prepared l , cultivated and planted in fruit trees. These farms were Intelv offered -for selection, and they are all taken up. The aggregate value of these farms is estimated at about £7(5.000, and they haivc been provided 'for from ordinary revenue. A community such as will ulti-

ma My be established at Waerenga would 'assist materially in 'bringing about an organised export of -fruit, and it is to this export that tho fruit industry must seek its success. This Department is also undertaking very extcmsiye work in tos-tim; certain lands in, different parts of the Dominion. For instance, the pumice. lands of the extensive Taupo plateau; the gum lands of the, Xorthern TVninhnla; the intractable lands on the West Const of the South Island; and it is making a series of experiments with the object of .riMjrassinjT the depleted pastoral lands in the control regions of the Smith Tsknd. Associated with the work i.s 'the all important soil survey of the Dominion. The chief ajirieultural chemist and 1 a surveyor are undertaking a soil survey of forest lands of Otflffo and Southland, with a view to emiblinpr the fanner to treat

"nil cultivate. those lands on scientific lines. Tlie survevs in progress apply to ii million acres 'in tlie North Tshnd, where tlie a.fl'eot.imi of stock militates ngaitv*t the siuresslu] occujiotioii oif the land. The experimental farms arc in demand thronshont New Zealand, n.ntl it will he to inform yon that institutions will he established in

the South Island. Willi (his will be associated plant breeding at llvrce different stations, mill plant breeding is probably one of I be most useful nndertaik - inii'i. The Department in many of its undertakings and in experimental! farms has but experienced wluiit has been so universally felt in <nl] oilier parts o.f Iho world where similar undertakings exist. There is first the period of criticism, next «f some appm>i:ition, and finally that of both appreciation a.nd confidence. These farms, in addition to the groat

value 'to the agricultural community, luwe, I am glad to say, shown a prolit on operations far the year.