EXPERIMENT FARMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 3

EXPERIMENT FARMS.

A REQUEST FROM CANTERBURY. RAVAGES OF TIIE Glil'B AND APHIS. A Canterbury deputation representative of the Canterbury A. and ]'. Society and the Farmers' Union and the Canterbury members of Parliament wailed 011 tho Minister for Agriculture on Friday in regard to the establishment of an experiment farm and the necessity for endeavouring to obtain a remedy for tho pests that are now ravaging t'he grass and crops on tho lighter Canterbury lands. Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. Hardy, M.P. Sir Geo. Clifford, president of tho A. and P. Society, was (he first speaker. He said the deputation was the outcome of a consultation between the society and the Fanners' Union. Tho matter had become one of very great moment indeed. The farmers wore in a state of very grave l'ear as (a their future, as thousands of acres of grass had lieen destroyed by the grub and the aphis had been destroying the rape and crops upon which the fattening of lambs largely depended. The turnip crop had also become subject to cortain diseases. Whether they got an experiment far.n or not' he was certain that they did want a competent' experimentalist who would teach tho farmers how to cope with these pests. Such a man might think an experiment farm on a largo scale might not be the best means of dealing with tho matter. Some system such as was known in Canada as tho "cross-roads" system in which plots in various parts of the district were lent by farmers might be satisfactory. The Joss last' season was very great and it might be greater this season. Mr. J. O'Halioran said the movement had started in Oxford, and the settler? were anxious that something should be dons in getting rid of the grub and the aphis. The ravages of these pests had been very serious, and promised to bo worso this year. The settlors were faced with ruin it' these pests continued as they did last year. They were forced to como to tho Government for aid. An experiment farm was wanted iu North Canterbury, and the "cross roads" system might also do good work. Any scheme arranged should be financially strong, and in tho hands of capablo men. North Canterbury had tho best claim. Tho pests were not bad in the heavy lands. Mr. Hardy said those present as Canterbury members were quite willing to leave the locality of the experiment farm to tho Minister. Mr. Witty, M.P., said it was now a question of whether the settlers were going to got anything at all when they put their seed in. From a commercial and educational point of view, there was nothing more urgently wanted in Canterbury. Mr. Nosworthy, M.P., said that he knew one farm of 13G0 acres 011 which there was not 200 acres of grass fit to put slock 011. The matter had his hearty support. Mr. Forl«s, M.l'., said it was a matter for experts to say in what locality the farm would be of tho greatest advantage to the greatest number. There should also be some means of getting the farmers to sco the results on tho experiment farm. r i Crai & ie . corroborated what had beea said in reference to the ravages of the grub. Mr. Buxton, M.P., endorsed what had been yiid. Ho had just come from South Canterbury, and had seen tho ravages of the grub. Tj- Hon. T. Mackenzie, in replying, said that just at present they were not in a position to tny anything definite about the South Island farm. He wished to work with and for the fanners, and was glad to think that public opinion was now coming very much more behind the Department. Sonic time ago in the North Island it was suggested that the experiment farms should be cut up, and in tho Clulha district it had been suggested that the whole Agricultural Department should be wiped out. That was, to his mind, amazing. Having got public opinion behind them, however, they would be able to do good work. The Department had already been investigating tho matter of the grub and-the aphis. 111 regard to the experiment farm, he thought it might not be desirablo to liavo one on the very extensive lines of those 111 tho north, but to have possibly three in the South Island, in localities chosen by the officers of the Department ?- U i' Having got these established, they might widen out 011 lines suggested by Sir Geo. Clifford. Tho latter was right in saying that we did want the most competent advisers, and he hoped to add to the staff of the Department as the moneys .at his disposal would permit. Tlicy had recently added a man to fake charge of plajit-brceding. They wanted also scientific, practical men to direct in_ regard to experiments. He expressed >his entire sympathy with the desires of the deputation, and, as far as there w-cro means at his disposal lie would f° nva ™. their wishes. Ho would get Mr. Clifton to make further investipations in regard to these pests. With the co-oporatic.ri of Parliament, lie hoped to considerably widen the usefulness of the Department in the future. Messrs. Russell, Dnvpy, and Isitt were also present to show their sympathy with the object tho deputation had iu view.