H.—29A

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have been working in unison, and of late, through the medium of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Cawthron Institute has co-operated in similar work in the Nelson Province. All research work in animal-disease is centred at the Wallaceville Laboratory, though the whole field staff of the Live-stock Division is linked up with it. A large volume of work is done at Wallaceville, 3,513 specimens of animal origin being received there for examination in the year 1925-26, 3,292 in 1926-27, and 4,685 in 1927-28. In addition to the engagement of the Veterinary Bacteriologist already mentioned, arrangements are also in progress for one of the present Laboratory staff to visit Great Britain, Europe, and America in search of more knowledge and experience, and for a good man engaged in similar work in Great Britain to come to New Zealand for a time by way of exchange. Animal Husbandry. Animal-management has an important bearing upon the maintenance of a high standard of production and upon the prevention of many forms of animal-disease, and a new branch of the Department has been established to deal with animal husbandry. The existing field staff is beingutilized to convey advice to stockowners, and this, combined with the dissemination of information through the press and through the Department's Journal, is already giving evidence of being of practical assistance to farmers. The Pork Industry. In order to encourage the pork industry and to assist in building up an export trade, arrangements were made in 1927 for the granting of financial assistance in the form of a subsidy of id. per pound on all pork carcasses of suitable weights shipped to the United Kingdom, this subsidy to continue for a period of three years. In addition, investigations have been carried out on the rather difficult question, in the 'North Island, of the economics of pig-feeding, so far as the provision of foods other than dairy by-products is concerned. In the South Island the Lincoln College authorities have conducted some extensive and good work in this direction. The Poultry Industry. Considerable attention has been given to this well-established and very useful industry, which, largely owing to the high cost of poultry-foods, has been passing through a rather difficult time. In order to assist in the marketing of surplus eggs a guarantee on eggs exported was arranged this year and it is hoped that this may assist in keeping the industry 'on a stable footing. A poultry-breeding and experimental station has been established at Wallaceville, from which poultry-farmers can obtain birds, or sittings of eggs, of good utility strain, and where experimental work aimed at obtaining knowledge calculated to assist the forward progress of the industry can be carried out. Fertilizers. The provision of an ample supply of good fertilizers at a reasonable cost is an outstanding essential to high and increasing production from all classes of farming, and the ensuring of such a supply has been given full attention. Through the Phosphate Commission established by Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand to handle the supplies of phosphate from Nauru and Ocean Islands, phosphate rock sufficient to meet the requirements of our manufacturers has been brought in at a very moderate cost. Negotiations have also been initiated for the securing, in conjunction with Australia (with Great Britain as a possible future partner), of a further large source of supply of high-grade phosphate. Apart from this, a large reduction, amounting to 40 per cent., was made some two years since in the charges on the carriage by rail of all fertilizers for the use of farmers, and this has undoubtedly had the effect of considerably increasing the quantity of fertilizers used, with a resultant increase in production. The large part of this freight concession is provided for on the Agriculture Department's vote. Inspection op Milk-supplies of Cities and Boroughs. In the inspection of dairy premises special attention has been given to cleanliness, methods of handling, and cooling of the milk. A careful examination of the cows is carried out, and any showing clinical evidence of serious scheduled disease are ' destroyed. Cases suspicious of tuberculosis are subjected to the tuberculin test, and if a reaction takes place they too are destroyed. In addition owners are encouraged to submit their cows to the tuberculin test, which is applied by the Department's officers free of charge, and during the past three years 12,469 animals were subjected to this test. As a further precautionary measure composite samples of milk are taken and subjected to biological examination for tubercular infection at the Department's Veterinary Laboratory, and during the past three years, out of approximately 1,500 such samples examined, only eight gave a positive result. The herds from which these eight infected samples were obtained were followed up, and the affected cows detected and condemned.