BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1918, Page 2

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The Board of -Agriculture paid a visit to the Weraroa State farm on Wednes_®th inst., and after a careful inspection had a long conference with Dr Reakes, Director General of Agriculture, and discussed a number of questions bearing on the policy and best line o, work to he adopted at the farm r'n the future. BABBIT NUISANCE. _ Tiie Board also held a lengthy meetlil.? IC following day, when they discussed the best means to he adopted to .reduce Wie number of rabbits in various parts of the Dominion. A number of proposed amendments to the Rabbit Nuisance Act were, considered, including some calculated to meet the special circumstanes that had arisen in some parts of the North Island. It "was hoped that the Government might be able to pass these during the comto<> session. °

NOXIOUS WEEDS. Tho question of uovious weeds also came up for discussion. A number of amendments dealing particularly with the list of weeds in tho schedules of the present Act wore adopted with a view of embodying them in a draft amending bill to be re-considered at a future before being submitted to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture for his consideration. CORN SACKS. In view of tho action of the Government in the matter of securing next season's corn sacks for distribution throughout tho Dominion at a uniform price, the question was raised as to the desirability of doing tilio same with regard to wool packs, hut it was finally agreed to make further enquiries to ascertain whether it was necessary to adopt such a course. EAR-MARKING STOCK. An enquiry about supplying farmers with standardised pliers for car-mark-ing stock was deferred until a report was received from tho committee appointed to consider the best method of J ear-marking. RESOLUTIONS PROM AGRICULTURI AL CONFERENCE. A number of resolutions forwarded by the Council of Agriculture dealing with rural education, hydro-electric power, depletion of native timbers, training of New Zealand soldiers in England in agricultural work, food rot in sheep, dry rot in turnips, sheep dipping mixtures, and railway facilities in connection with agricultural shows were adopted. Tho Board discussed most of these questions with the Director General of Agriculture when steps were taken in the direction of endeavoring to give effect to the wishes of the conference, and to forward the others to the Ministers controlling tho various matters. WHALE FEED AS FERTILISER. A letter was received drawing attention to the enormous quantities of whale feed which occasionally occurred in t'he southern coastal waters of New Zealand, and suggesting that the Board should make enquiries about the quality of some of this whale feed during the coming summer and have it analysed, when if the analysis was satisfactory and proved of any manurial value arrangements might be made to obtain a quantity of it for the benefit of farmers and local manufacturers in New Zealand.

The Board had made enquiries and ascertained that Mr G. M. Thompson, oi Dunedin, had already been making research into this matter and that he had reported that for some reason or other this "whale feed" has beeu very scarce for the past two or three years and tihat during the past nine months not a solitary specimen had been seen in his locality though they would probably turn up again some day in bililons. SOYA BEAN MEAL. A further communication was received stating that Japan had a large tonnage of Soya, bean meal, which could be used at a manure, and that the New Zealand manure merchants stated that if the analysis of this was as good as reported they could make considerable quantities of it in the great dearth of manure existing in New Zealand at the present time. But as Soya, bean cake was also used as food for a.nimals it might be liable to a customs duty of 30 per cent if brought in under that heading, whereas if allowed in as manure it would be duty free. As the matter was one of great importance to farmers the Board was requested to communicate with the Comptroller of Customs on the subject. After some discussion the Director General of Agriculture, Mr Reakes, arranged to make further enquiries in the matter and to advise the Board at the nest meeting regarding it,