SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 8

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT'S REPORTS

VALUABLE WORKER LOST.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research states that good report* are to hand regarding the damage done to ragwort by the larvae of the Tyria Jacobaeae. "It is unfortunate, from the point of view of noxious weeds research work, that the Department is losing to Australia the services of Mr. Tonnoir. The question of his replacement is difficult, owing to the dearth of qualified entomologists, and it appears there are uo suitable investigators available locally without robbing other important linee of work.

Investigations at the Dairy Research Institute arc being concentrated on the problem of open texture in cheese, but it is yet too soon to evaluate the results secured to date.

Regular experimental shipments of fruit (apples and pears) have heen forwarded by vessels leaving for the United Kingdom. They will be examined on arrival by the staff of the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge, and, judging by the report 011 last year's fruit shipments, very valuable information should be forthcoming. The plant research station at Palmcreton North i« now functioning fully, the scientific staff of the station being engaged upon a wide range of problems connected with pastures and economic crop 6. Dr. Frankel, wheat geneticist, assistant to Dr. Ililgendorf, has arrived and taken up hie duties at Lincoln College. The work at the wheat research laboratory is in full swing, on investigations connected with the preeent season's grain. Some thousand samples of wheats from all parts of the grain-growing districts of both islands have been assembled at the laboratory for teste. The directors report dealing with the correct naming of a large number of varieties grown throughout Canterbury and Otago, together with the steps taken to certify good supplies of seed wheat, which will help in the production of those desirable types of grain most useful to millers and bakere.

A scheme to deal with the very difficult question of wool research has been evolved after careful consideration l>v a committee. The presence in the Dominion of Dr. J. E. Nichols was of great assistance in formulating a plan of local research, allied with the Empire scheme of investigations.