AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 6

AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

•; ■ --■ , .:>, . V ■. '-■ : THE" COMMISSIONERS'-FROM . '■•■,' SCOTLAND., .. (By Telegraph—Press' Association.) Christohurch, January' 27. ' Several matters relating to tho-policy of "tho Department of. Agriculture- of providing lnstructirfn, in scientific agricultural methods are at present occupying tho attention of tho Minister in chargo of tho Department, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie. In an interview this morning the Minister gavo a-reporter somo information regarding several, of his proposals. Ho explained that his object in going to Dunodin was to.meetr Messrs. Keith and Dunlop, two' of .tho commissioners from Scotland/ who visited tho Commonwealth to report upon its possibilities as a field for emigration. They had come to tho .Dominion on a holiday visit, but he hoped, that' they would.be kind enough to givo him their views on tho 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 Dunodin on the following day, and if their plans permitted ho would. endeavour to. show them something of the country of-Otago and Canterbury. He realised that tho two gentlemen were on holiday, but ho was hopeful that they would, bo of assistance in tho Department's efforts to improve the existing conditions. The possibilities of utilising'what are generally regarded as waste lands in tho Taupo district are being investigated by Mr. • Mackenzie. Ho said that tho experiments in tree-planting on the pumice lands of tho district-had been a great success, and lie hoped that tho experiments which ' wero being made would show that the', neglected areas might be employed with profit for tho production of grass and root crops. Ho did not expect big results, but he- hoped to demonstrate a profltablo fertility - in tho soil. Some excellent turnips grown in parts of the. district had been shown to him, but tho roots were perhaps tho product of exceptionally good portionsThere was, however, good reason for believing that paspalum and some other secondary grasses could bo established on the pumaceous soil.