INSTITUTE’S THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 7

INSTITUTE’S THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

r J' I HE proposal to establish a * co-operative demonstration run on Rhoborough Downs station in the Mackenzie Country will not now be proceeded with, according to tiie third annual report of tile Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute. The report said that this had been a result of matters relating to the future ownership of the property.

The director of the institute, Mr L. W. McCaskill, said last week that the staff of the institute was now investigating the possibilities of other runs in various parts of the South Island being used as co-operative demonstration runs.

The report said that attempts to obtain a suitable person tor the position of research officer had been unsuccessful and it had been decided to develop in the fields of run management and of the economics of runs, and in the coming year it was hoped to make appointments to enable this work to be carried out.

The committee of management of the institute reported that it had spent much time in studying land use in the tussock grasslands and mountain lands. Its members would meet the high country committee of Federated Farmers to discuss its findings, and they would be further discussed with the chairman of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council before being submitted to the Government. As a result of the seminar called to discuss plant breeding for the tussock grasslands. the report . said the Grasslands. Division of the D.S.I R would make seed of new varieties availably for testing in the tussock grasslands Mr John Scott. of Godley Peaks station, had made land available for some of this work, and cultivation would be done by Mr J. W Simpson, of Mount Hay

The report also recorded that the institute had called a meeting to consider proposals for the improvement of machinery available for overdrilling or sod-seeding tn the more difficult country in the tussock grasslands. “Pending the results of further trials with existing machinery this autumn, the institute is acting as a centre for the collection of information and next year will sponsor a symposium on the whole problem of overdrilling, including chemical control of existing vegetation." On the sweet briar problem, the committee said that as a result of representations from Federated Farmers the institute was approaching the Minister of Agriculture with suggestions for the intensification of investigations into the control of briar, including mechanical means, chemical control and management. “The institute welcomes the introduction of a gall midge, which may be able to play a part in the control of St. Johns Wort,” the report said. “Every assistance will be given to the entomolgy division of the D.S.I.R in its attempts to establish the insect in the Mackenzie Country and other infested areas.”