H.—29a.

11

Club-root and Dry-rot Disease in Turnips. As a result of our discussion with Mr. Cockayne of these subjects he read a paper containing some very interesting information thereon before the Council of Agriculture in July last, which is included in the report of the Council's proceedings. It is noted that the Department is growing a number of different classes of turnips on infected soil so as to ascertain whether any of them is proof against the disease. The dry-rot, or phoma, we are glad to see, is being investigated, but so far so little is known about it that farmers in the South Island are mostly giving up growing swedes and turning their attention to some of the varieties of turnips which yield well and are not subject to the disease. One such variety is the Imperial or Hard}' Green Globe species, the seed of which seems to be likely to be very scarce. If it be at all possible to secure good crops of this Variety in the South we think farmers would be well advised to allow them to go to sped in order that it might perhaps come in for sowing the later crops. Experimental Work on Pumice Land in the Central District of the North Island. The enormous area of land on the central plateau in the North Island, which, may be classed as pumice land, justified a further considerable amount of attention being paid to the best and most economical way of dealing with this question. It has now been shown that successful settlement can take place and good returns be secured from lands which in earlier times were looked upon as useless. Certain pioneers have done great work in demonstrating their value. Large areas possibly are only suitable for the growth of timber, but other areas which come within a reasonable distance of the railway system, or its likely extension, are clearly suitable for setting aside for settlement purposes, and the Board thought it possible that some further experiments in the way of grassing, manures, and the system to be adopted should be carried out. To that end we requested that the Department report upon the subject. Summarizing Agricultural Experiments. It has been felt by the Board that the results of a large number of the experiments were conducted by the Department and individual farmers under the control of the Department never reach the public, and the Board requested the Director of the Fields Division to summarize the experiments with a view to publishing the results frequently in the Journal of Agriculture as soon as possible after they have been obtained. Unfortunately, owing to existing conditions, the space in this publication has been curtailed, but the system which is adopted by the English Board of Agriculture of publishing in its Journal experiments of interest to farmers that are taking place all over the world is one that might with advantage be followed in this country, and we are glad to learn that Mr. Brown is prepared to carry this out as far as possible if the space is available in the Journal of Agriculture. The Board regret exceedingly that after the expediture of so much money in carrying out these experiments the results have not been completely summarized and the information widely spread through the Press and the Journal of Agriculture for the guidance of farmers. Protest against the Proposed Establishment by the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company (Limited) of a Condensed-milk Factory in New 'Zealand. This matter, which was referred by Cabinet to the Board for consideration, was the outcome of correspondence which Messrs. Murray's Limited, of Invercargill, had with the Hon. Mr. Myers protesting against a foreign firm being allowed by the Government to come in and control the condensed-milk industry in the Dominion. We had evidence from the manager of the company of such a nature as to convince the Board that the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company intended to come to New Zealand. There was very considerable probability that the compairy in Invercargill which was now manufacturing the " Highlander " brand of condensed milk would, if this eventuated, be driven out of the trade which it had built up in this article. The company was a New Zealand company, had been established many years in the Dominion, and was successfully carrying out its business. Although there was no direct evidence, the strong presumption was that the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Company was an alien company. It had immense capital, which was acknowledged in some cases to be alien, and the representatives when asked would not produce its list of shareholders. For the above reasons the Board thought chat if the Government had power to prevent an alien company establishing a condensed-milk factory in New Zealand which might develop into a trust it should do so, and, if not, it should take the necessary legislative action giving it the power to enable it to do so. Following is a copy of the memorandum sent by us to the Hon. Mr. Myers on the subject:— " The question of the establishment by the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company (Limited) of, a condensed-milk factory in New Zealand has been referred to the Board for consideration. Mr. W. D. Hunt, a member of the Board, was good enough to furnish a report to the Board on the subject, with whose conclusions in the matter; the Board generally agree. " He pointed out that it was a question of policy as to whether the Government of New Zealand, in consideration of the fact (as the Board are informed) that this company has developed into a dangerous trust practically controlling the condensed-milk industry of the world—and which with its big capital may oust any local industry, and therefore would be able (as the Meat Trust has done in other countries) to control prices both to the producer and consumer —should not prohibit the company starting in New Zealand.