EXPERIMENTAL WORK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 260, 16 August 1930, Page 6

EXPERIMENTAL WORK

POSITION AT LINCOLN. DISCONTINUANCE OPPOSED.. RESOLUTION AT METHVEN. There was a very large attendance at the Methven Town Hall last evening, when addresses were delivered on various subjects of interest to farmers by Messrs Calder, -'Leslie and Scott, oi the Lincoln. Agricultural College statt. Mr M. Macale (president of the Methven branch of the Farmers' Union) presided. Mr Calder spoke on the various pasture grasses in use in Canterbury, and showed a number of lantern slides illustrating the advantages to be obtained by using certificated seed. Mr Leslie gave a most interesting address on .various diseases of live stock, dealing particularly with anti partura paralvsis in ewes and with 'y pulpy kidney disease in lambs. He also commented on a number of salt licks and stock foods in general use. He ' described, with the aid'of slides and graphs, the results of various experiments at the College in their effort to find a cure for the diseases that are causing such a loss among ewes and also lambs. Mr Scott dealt with experiments in connection with the feeding of wheat to sheep. He explained that though the experimental stage was not yet passed, they had discovered enough to convince them that it was a payable proposition to feed stock on undergrade milling wheat in times of surplus, instead of having to export it at a loss. He also used a number or graphs to show how it was possible to increase the carrying capacity of the land up to 100 per cent, by feeding wheat in the months when grass was scarce. _, A vote of thanks was moved by Mr J. W. M. Dart was carried with hearty acclamation. , Mr James Carr moved a vote or thanks to the chairman (Mr Macale), who had been responsible for the visit of the speakers. Mr R. J. Low commented adversely on the action of the Government in withdrawing from certain experimental work which had been commenced at Lincoln Agricultural College, and said he viewed with disfavour its action in spending lavishly on Massey College, in the North Island, and reducing its support of Lincoln College. He moved that the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister be written to on these lines. . The motion was carried unanimously.