FARM PROBLEMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 127, 11 March 1931, Page 3

FARM PROBLEMS

PROGRESS OF RESEARCH.

WEEDS, SOILS AND PASTURES. (Special to "The Guardian.") WELLINGTON, March 10. The progress of research operations under the direction of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was briefly summarised by the chairman, Mr George H. Shirtcliff, at the council's meeting. An introduced parasite of the ragwort, "Tyria jacobea," has been successfully established in a number of areas ini the North and South Islands, and \s attacking the weed over an extensive area. The committee in charge of this work has recommended the liberation of "Apion ulicis" in specified localities in order more speedily to overcome difficulties of acclimatisation, and this season its capacity to multiply under New Zealand conditions .should be known. One consignment has already bred through two generations. The report added that regular and abundant consignments of parasites to deal with ragwort, gorse and blackberry are still being received from Farnham Royal, and a similar arrangement to introduce Piii-piri parasites from Chile is working well. Mineral Content of Pastures, Success in the treatment of stockgrazing on bush-sick pastures by the use of carbonate.of iron licks was reported. This treatment' is expected to prove efficacious over a considerable portion of the central North Island pumice area, and* also over land in the Poverty Bay and Northern Hawke's Bay districts. Persistent treatment 9!' bush-sick soil at Mamakau with basic slag combined with superphosphate appears to be combating stock aud enables medicinal dosing of the stock to be avoided. The investigation of chemical composition of pastures in the Nelson district is continuing, and a valuable supply of data is becoming available which will enable farm practice to be modified with resultant improved returns. . - In soil reconnaisance work, the survey of a large area extending from the Taupo railway line west to Te Awamutu has been completed, and already it has been possible to provide valuable advice where the soil has been suspected of being responsible for stock sickness, and to he of doubtful value for settlement. Dairy Research. As a result of further negotiations, the finances for the Dairy Research institute for the current year have been stabilised, and the additional grant received from the Empire Marketing Board will be devoted particularly to the solution of cheese problems. This work is being pursued by the institute staff.in collaboration with the Hawera and Hamilton laboratories. Regular shipments of cheese processed by different methods are being sent to England for inspection by experts. Efforts are also being made -to iniprore butter quality, and trial shipments have been arranged of butter possessing a higher flavour than that common to the exported product. "This trial should give guidance as to the possibility of the Dominion being able to place' on the market a butter possessed of>a flavour which will render it more palatable to the English taste, and thus enable it to better compete against Danish and Continental supplies." I . Good progress has been made with a number of investigations into the nutritive yaluo of cheese protein and its vitamin efficiency, and the effect of certain diets on the animal consuming them.