RESEARCH ON WOOL

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28742, 13 November 1958, Page 21

RESEARCH ON WOOL

Lincoln College Display ' Canterbury Agricultural College has concentrated in its display this year on wool, and the comprehensive range of exhibits illustrates clearly the considerable research being conducted at the college on problems of wool production. One of these problems—wool staining by bacteria—is ingeniously demonstrated by the microbiology department of the college, which has devised a means of reproducing the pigments from bacteria and showing exactly what happens on the sheep’s back. A college lecturer, Mr A. P. Mulcock, said the problem was not infrequent in New Zealand and often caused wool to be downgraded and lose value. Mr Mulcock has devised a machine which simulates continuous rain on a sheep’s back. It enables the effects to be studied at all stages and the type of wool which supports the growth of the bacteria to be determined. The rest of the college's display showed research on the development of wool fibres, the utilisation of the various types and grades of wool, faults caused by enviromental and feed conditions,and specimens from almost every sheep-raising country in the world. Menace of Hydatids The menace of hydatids—its causes and effects, are demonstrated in frightening manner by the Department of Agriculture. By means of diagrams and flicking coloured lights the life cycle of the hydatid fluke from the infected offal to the growth of the tapeworm in the dog and from the dog to sheep and humans, is shown with dramatic emphasis. Many farmers and home gardeners will be grateful for the information given on the deadly cape tulip which has recently been found in home gardens and has caused a great deal of concern. The Horticultural Division ; also gives useful advice on planning home gardens with suitable shrubs, trees and plants. i The importance of hygiene in the handling of milk and dairy products is emphasised in the Dairy Division's display. The uses of forest products on the farm are shown by the New Zealand Forest Service’s display [of treated larch and Corsican , pine posts, poles and fencing ■ rails cut from exotic forests of ' Canterbury.