FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1919, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

, HELPING THE FARMERS. WORK OP THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. The annual report of the Director of Agriculture states that the worlc of the Department is extending greatly in order to meet tlio growing desire of the agricultural and t-ustoral community for expert advice and assistance in all farming matters, and the need lor further developing these Industries with a view to increasing prtmary production must necessarily involve a still greater expansion or the Department's services, "The* development of a more comprehensive and efficient scheme of general agricultural education is one of the greatest necessities of the Dominion at the present time" says the report. "As It is, a very great deal of work is being done in this directionmuch more. Indeed, than the Department sometimes receives credit for. The Ruakura Farm especially is rapidly developing Into an educational institution, largely the result of it being utilised for the purpose of training returned soldiers in special branches of outdoor work also for special classes for teachers and for fanners, these latter • being organised and carried out in co-operation with the Auckland Education Board. The Weraroa Farm Mjs been undergoing a reorganisation procws within itself, and is now undertaking a new departure in educational work in connection with ret/urnefl soltfidrs. The Maumaliakl I: arm has proved of considerable value to farmers in the surrounding district, practical demonstration work being its special featwe. "Steps aro now being taken to give effect to a new general policy in connection, with experimental farms. Under this scheme a sufficient area on each farm will be set aside for experimental work planned on lines calculated to elucidate new facts and obtain new Information. The remainder will be conducted as a demonstration farm in modern up-to-date methods, and be made proflt-earn-ing. Separate accounts will be kept for each branch of the farm, and annual balancesneets, based 011 commercial principles, will be furnished. It is considered that the usefulness of these institutions to our farmers will be much enhanced by such means "There is a strong demand throughout the Dominion for more experimental farms, but this demand has to be considered in connection with the whole question of agricultural education, of which experimental farms, properly conducted, are one important feature. Such farms alone, however, are not sufficient for tile country's requirements in this direction, and a special need lies in the provision of capable advisory officers—men possessing both prtctical and scientific qualifications, who are nble to impress farmers with the value of their knowlodge, and thus bring about the adaption of their advice, with a resulting increase in the general efficiency of the farming industry. The present Instructional staff is doing excellent worlt in this direction, but it is intended to strengthen it materially. Two officers of sound educational and practical attainments have already been engaged, and inquiries are being made for others of the right type; these, however, are not easy to secure without depriving other public activities of personnel. "The specific scientific services of the Department have a wide 3cope of activity. The chemical laboratory carries out a great volume of analytical work In connection with soils, manures, food plants, and food materials, animal specimens, etc, The bacteriological laboratory (YVallacovllle) deals particularly with matters connected with the prevention and the control of live stock diseases, whether scheduled as contagious diseases or otherwise. Other special features of its activities lie In the examination of specimens of all kinds sent In not only by officers of the Department but by stocltowners, and also the examination of milk supplies. . The biological laboratory is doing especially good work in seed testing, and though this is carried out 011 a purely voluntary basis so far as the senders of samples for testing are concerned, It > is of great benefit to pastoralists and agriculturists generally, and undoubtedly goes a considerable way in ensuring that purchasers of seeds secure supplies which are reliable both from the point of view of freedom from sorlous contamination and in ierminating power. In addition, considerable work is carried out by this section in connection with the ident'flcation of plants, and scientific work generally connected with problems affecting animal food plants, plant breeding, and selection, etc. It Is Intended, as finances allow, to consolidate and further develop these services."