Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1910. PLANT-BREEDING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10124, 21 October 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1910. PLANT-BREEDING.

A very interesting article appears in the "Journal of the Department of Agriculture" this month, from the pen of Mr A. H. Cockayne, Government Biologist, dealing with the question of plant-breeding. The main object of modern farming is to secure from the soil as large a return as possible, without exhaustion, and to secure this end the improvement of the laud and its products becomes an important question. In New Zealand, where land values are steadily rising, it is of paramount importance that the returns shall be at the best in direct ratio to the increase. In the opinion of Mr Cockayne, the improvements necessary are in tho drainage, manuring, tillage, conservation of moisture, crop-rotation and proper pasturing in respect to the soil itself; in cattle, sheep, horses, etc.; and in the introduction of new species and varieties of plants that will tend towards an increased food-supply either for domestic animals or for man himself. Work under the first two heads is being steadily pursued in New j Zealand, but Mr Cockayne asserts that the phase of industry dealing with the improvements in the varieties of plants has not been given the attention it deserves. After { dealing with the question of our grass-crop, tho Biologist goes on to urge the necessity of the establishment in the Dominion of a properlyequipped plant-breeding station under Government control. He docs not think that this should be associated with the present experimental farms, which have already a multiplicity of duties to perform. The aim or such a station would be the improvement of agricultural plants in those directions which would make them more profitable to grow. It will be shown that the plants at present comprising the farm flora are capable of being vastly improved, and when such improvements have been carried into effect the employment, of such improved or artificially bred plants would have the, effect of immediately increasing the productiveness of the land of New Zealand! There are two crops that here reign supreme, grass and its subsidiary crops, consisting of those plants that

arc used to supplement it—namely, rape, turnips, mangolds, oats, etc. Seeing that 95 per cent, of our cultivated area is wholly devoted to these animal-feeding crops, is it not essential for the continued welfare of this country that the improvement of these crops should occupy a high position in the work of a plantbreeding station? Our minor crops could and should be improved—in fact, all the plants that are of economic value to the farmer could be made to produce increased returns, with accompanying wealth and prosperity to the Dominion. That this is no idle boast can easily be shown by an examination of what has already been accomplished; and we must remember that the improvement by breeding a great many of our staple crops is yet in its infancy. The suggestions of Mr Cockayne are of considerable interest to tiie farming community, and should be seriously discussed by our A. and P. Associations and Farmers' Unions.