BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1917, Page 7

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL LEGISLATION. The new Board of Agriculture, recently appointed in terms of the Board of Apiculture Act, 18IS, held their first meeting on-Tuesday. The personnel of the Board is the same as the previous one, with the exception that Mr. 0. J. Hnwken replaces Mr. B. Dingle (Taranaki district),, and Mr. W. R. May replaces M. A. P. Allport (Marlborough, Nelson, and vV'pstland districts). Sir James Wilson, president of the Board, took the chair and extended a welcometo the new meuiuerg appointed to the Board,

THE WHEAT QUESTION. It was decided to again write to the Minister of Agriculture on the subject of the price offered by the Government for next season's wheat, and to inform the Minister that the Board hoped that, after his experience of what it would cost to bring wheat Irom Australia, ho could now see his way to make the price for next season's crop os lOd -per busli«l 0.t., instead "Sf f.0.b., which would encourage the growth of a wider area of wheat, and be much more- equitable to those wheat-growers a long distance from port selling for local use, seeing that tho miller would he entitled to deduct from the 5s lOd the freight) charges to the port, even though there was no intention of exporting the wheat, - -

I SHIPPING SPACE FOE EXPORTS. After a lengthy discussion of the position the Board was of opinion that it should be represented at the conference which has been called to investigate the question of riiipnm<r «naco. if at that conference it is found necessary t" further in the matter, and consider how production and stock should bo dealt with, and the president was empowered to make representations to the ActingPrime' Minister to this effect. , POTASH • IMPLIES. ''""'■' Mr Ashton, Agricultural Chemist, supplied the Board with some valuable particulars regarding the amount of potash contained in fern and in the ashes at sawmills, which are now being wasted. Tie informed the Board that he was continuing these investigations, and hoped that some methods might be devised to profitably utilise the-potash that might be obtained for manurial purposes from these and other sources in the Dominion.

IMPORTATION OF PHOSPHATES. Attention was called to the fact that some difficulty had arisen with regard to obtaining necessary shipments of phoephate of lime from Makatea Island. It was decided to communicate with the Minister .urging that every facility be given to enable the ship now under charter between New Zealand and Makatea to complete the number of trips that have been arranged for, in order to obviate a, serious shortage of fertiliser.

UNIFORMITY OF FLOCKS AND STUD BOOK.

A letter was received by the Board pointing out the importance of bringing about uniformity in the flock books of New Zealand, and requesting the Board to endeavor to arrange for a conference of the representatives of the various breed societies throughout the Dominion during the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Agriculture, to be held in Wellington in the beginning of July. It was decided to adopt the suggestion contained in the letter and to communicate with the Stud Book authorities, as well as the various bodies interested in the matter. DISEASES OF ROOT CROPS. It was decided to request that the officers of the Department should bring this matter up for discussion at the coming conference of the A. and P. Association in July, PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL LEGISLATION. The Board had a discussion with, Mr. Pope, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, in reference to the encouragement of the breeding of horses for military purposes, a Seeds Bill, and an amendment to the Fertilisers Act, 10OS. It was pointed out that it was of the utmost importance to do everything that was practicable to stimulate the fullest development of the natural resources of the Dominion which play an important, part in keeping the war going, and to which we must look for meeting our oblgations after the war. IMPROVEMENT IN DAIRYING.

The question of improvement in dairyin generally, and in the better management of dairy herds, was considered, as was also the importance of educating the young people on the farms in these matters. Mr. 0. J. Hawken, the represntative, on the Board for the Taranakj district, gave the Board some interesting details with regard to the movement in this province to establish a 'model dairy farm under the management of the farmers themselves, assisted by a Government subsidy. The opinion was expressed that such a farm would be of considerable service to settlers in that centre, and the Board discussed with Mr. Pope the practicability of initiating a aeries of short courses and lectures on dairying matters during the winter i months, to be given by officers of the Department, Mr. Pope thought that arrangements could be made to give effect | to the wishes of the local Board in this direction.