H—29

Summary of Numbers of Experiments Laid Down, Discontinued, and Carried on for the Period 1st April, 1948, to 31st March, 1949

Rukuhia Soil Fertility Research Station Work lias progressed very satisfactorily at the Rukuhia Soil Fertility Research Station, both in research and in technical services to Instructors in Agriculture. The Soil Section has carried out a comprehensive investigation of alternate methods of soil analysis to determine those giving best correlation with the results of field trials and also suitable for use by Instructors without laboratory facilities. During the winter a course in the use and interpretation of these methods was given to sixteen Instructors. Kit sets embodying essential equipment have since been issued to these Instructors and also to four Instructors of the Horticulture Division. Further instructional courses will be held and the service extended as the demand arises. Steps have been taken during the year to increase the effectiveness of the chemical laboratory by providing equipment and training staff for two relatively new developments in analytical techniques. One is in the use of spectroscopic methods, which will enable large numbers of samples to be

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Nature of Trial. As at 1st April, 1948. Discontinued during Year. Laid down during Year. As at 31st March, 1949. 1. Pasture — j (a) Pasture-production measurement 23 6 6 23 (b) Observational top-dressing j 162 23 37 176 (c) Minor element 4 2 . 5 7 (d) Potash survey 20 3 24 41 (e) Pasture species and strains 96 15 61 | 142 (/) Pasture establishment (general) 15 3 10 22 (g) Surface-sown legumes 71 1 72 (h) Short-rotation rye-grass 22 6 16 (i) Depleted land 5 3 *2 4 (j) Miscellaneous 11 11 2. Crops — (a) Wheat manurial 9 10 15 14 (b) Wheat variety 22 23 29 28 (c) Wheat, other 3 3 2 2 (d) Oats 9 9 8 8 (e) Barley 19 21 26 24 (/) Cereal green feed 6 9 13 10 (g) Brassicas 43 43 66 66 (h) Linen flax 4 6 6 4 (i) Linseed 4 5 13 12 (j) Sugar-beet 3 3 3 3 (Jc) Onions 2 2 (I) Lucerne 9 1 9 (m) Lupins .. 7 8 *8 7 (n) Peas 1 1 1 1 (o) Maize 8 8 13 13 (p) Potatoes 42 43 47 46 (q) Other crop trials 7 8 11 10 3. Miscellaneous— (a) Pampas 5 2 1 4 (b) Weed control 131 46 71 156 (c) Cultivation practices 15 1 16 Id) Casting worms 79 79 (e) Blind-seed disease of rye-grass 9 io 16 15 (/) Insects and insecticides 5 10 12 7 (g) Abnormal clover seed investigation .. 39 39 (h) Miscellaneous .. .. ii ii 13 16 Totals 872 340 573 1,105