SOIL NOT NEEDED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20907, 12 September 1939, Page 2

SOIL NOT NEEDED

FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WILL DO BETTER IN WATER (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Monday Hydroponics, or the science of growing flowers, fruit and vegetables in water instead of in earth, will be introduced to New Zealand at the Centennial Exhibition. By adding certain vital salts to water a skilful hydroponist can grow as fine a crop of tomatoes as ever flourished in a nurseryman's bed. Practically anything that will grow in soil will flourish in water and will, In most cases, do better than in solid ground. This discovery was first made about 8U years ago, but the science of hydroponics was perfected only two years ago, when Dr. William Frederick Gericke, of the University of California, Berkeley, applied it to the production of nurserymen’s and market gardeners' crops on a large scale in tanks of water. lie grew tomato plants 25ft. tall, raised more than half a too of tomatoes, and had the plants bearing for nine months of the year in & greenhouse tank 20ft. by 12ft. containing a nutrient solution electrically warmed. He grew 2G bushels of potatoes in another such tank. TERMITEB AT WORK DISPLAY AT EXHIBITION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday A nest of termites, the dreaded Australian white ants, now established in parts of New Zealaud, will be exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition. Live ants will be seen carrying out their depredations to timber under natural conditions. The Dominion Museum entomologist, Mr T. J. Salmon, is looking after the insects, which were obtained in the Auckland district. They are already established in woodwork between two panes of plate-glass. Although the •wood is seasoned puriri, one of the hardest and most resistant native timbers, they are rapidly eating it away. The utmost precautions are being taken to prevent their escape or propagation outside their case.