SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 24, 28 January 1911, Page 10

SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE.

UTILISING WASTE LANDS*? CoMfisppmiWt^i/-: CHRISTOHmCH, v this day. matters "relating "to the policy »f the Department of Agriculture of providing instruction in scientific agricultural methods are at present occupying the attention of the Minister in charge of the Department (the Hon. T. Mackenzie). In an interview this morning the Minister gave a reporter some information regarding several of his proposals. He explained that his object in.going to Dunedin was to meet MessrsVKeitli and •Dunlop, two of the Commissioners'iEOin'Scot.land, who were engaged by the Victorian Government to visit the Commonwealth and report upon its possibilities as a field for emigration. They had come to the Dominion on a holiday visit, but he hoped that they would be kind enough to give him their views on the .most up-to-date methods of establishing and controlling experimental agricultural stations and on questions relating to agricultural and pastoral interests. The visiting Commissioners would arrive in Dunedin on the following day, and' if their plans per- ; mitted he would endeavour to show them something of the country,of Otago and' Canterbury*- ~.He : realised that the two , gentlemen were "oh a holiday, but he was ; hopeful that they would be able to give ; him advice that would be of assistance ■in the Department's . efforts to .improve the existing condition's, it ~Z.~.T,, 'Si. The possibilities of: utilising what , are generally regarded as waste lands in the Taupo district are being investigated by the -Minister. Mr. Mackenzie said -that the "in tree-pla!hting on' the pumice lands of the district had been a great success,.and he hoped that the experiments ;which we're 'being made-would show that the neglected- areas- might be employed witfi profit for "the production of grass and. root-crops. He did not expect big results, but he hoped to demonstrate a profitable" fertility in the soil. Some excellent turnips grown in parts of • the'district had been-shqwn to him. The- ! roots wire,. perhaps,* product'" ofl'ex- ! ceptionally good portions, but there was, however, good reasoji. *f. ax believing ;that paspahim and some- other-' secondary grasses could be established on the puma- ■ ceous soil.