SCIENCE AND THE FARM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 6

SCIENCE AND THE FARM

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH activities in the DOMINION Al lhe quarterly meeting of the Board of Agriculture held in Wellington detailed consideration was given lo the quarterly reports submitted by ibe Directors of (lie various Divisions of the Department, and the main research activities of (lie Department were discussed in detail witli tlie Director-General and other responsible officers. Mr. B. C. Aston. Chief Chemist, outlined Hie investigations being conducted in New Zealand in connection with the mineral contents of pastures, which it is anticipated will lie of incalculable benefit to the Dominion. The work was, he explained. being carried out in close association with that in’other parts of the Empire, and financial assistance was being afforded by the Empire Marketing Board. Provision had been made for the extension of the laboratory accommodation, which would enable additional skilled assistants to be engaged and several improvements to be effecte* in the laboratory work. An exchange of skilled workers had been yrranged, and an officer of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, would soon take up duty here. In addition to the provision of further laboratory accommodation special reducing, drying, and incinerating apparatus had been installed and the Department was now in a position to deal much more expeditiously with pasture samples. Bush Sickness. In regard to the disease known as bush sickness, caused by a deficiency of assimilable iron in the diet of ruminants pastured on affected country, he indicated that by the aid of citrate, of ammonium and iron scales, sold by the stock inspectors at 2s. Gd. per lb., farmers were now successfully raising their calves where before they failed to do so, and stock -were now continuously carried on the farms whence previously they had to be exchanged once a year to healthy country. The treatment of sheep was a more difficult problem, but one which was having the closest attent ion, several methods of attack having been devised and would be reported upon in due course. Referring to the treatment of soil, lie intimated that the more frequent top-dressing of affected pasture, and the use of green manures were being experimented with. Both methods were showing good results, but greater experience was required before anything more definite could be stated than that the prospects were extremely hopeful. Field experiments were being undertaken in special areas, the chief activities at Hie moment being centered in the Te Kuiti mid Rotorua districts, but experiments were also in progress on areas at Nguroma. Soil Survey. '.l'ouehiug upon the question of soil survey, Mr. Aston intimated that the examination and classification of the pumice lauds adjacent to Rotorua _ was being proceeded with. A map of the subsoils had been completed, ■ and this showed a close correlation between the soils mid subsoils in the Rotorua county—a generalisation of considerable importance. Further samples of soil from deteriorated hili country _in th" Stratford-AA'hangamomoua district had been analysed, and it was proposed lo collect a more extensive range of samples during lhe coming season. The examination of the soils of Central Otago and the Te Kuiti district was also receiving attention. Referring to wheal products, Mr. Aston explained that for the purpose of endeavouring lo arrive at a slaitdard of qu.'ilitv for bran and pollard, a number of commercial samples of those products had been obtained and were being examined in comparison with the produels of the experimental milling of wheat carried out in the Departments biboratory. Wool Branding Fluids. An investigation of the wool-branding Holds on the market had been completed. but not evidence was obtained to support certain allegations that tar tornicd a constituent of some of the commercial preparations. AH the fluids examined, when properly used, gave brands that were readily removed by the usual scouring process. Lamb Mortality. Dealing with lhe work being done in association with the veterinary branch of the Department, Mr. Aston indicated that a large number of'pasture samples, collected during the past period ot mortality in lambs in Central Otago', were in the course of analysis. Dairy Investigations. Further chemical work had been carried out in the laboratory in connection with the experiments of the Dairy Division on the effect of moditying the latcontent of milk for cheese-making, in addition to which the nature ot a peculiar taint in butter which occurred periodically in one of the northern dairy lactones, was being investigated. .Cattle Diseases. The question of cattle disease was discussed with the officer in charge ol the veterinary laboratory at M allaceyille, who explained in detail the work which was being done. The Department reported that ariangements had been made to extend the. investigations into contagious mammilis. contagious abortion, and the various forms of sterility, by releasing two of the veterinary officers who have, for some time pasi. been assisting in the work, from .their other field duties, and allowing them to give their whole time to the work, in collaboration with the otlicer-iu-charge of Ihe veterinary laboratory, and his stall. The officers elected are Mr. C. V. ’Jayus, AI.R.C.V.S.. Hamilton, who will remain at Hamilton as his headquarters, and Mr. W N. Webster, M.R.C.V.S.. Masterton. whose headquarters has been changed to New Plymouth to enable him to work the Taranaki district. Thus the two principal dairying districts will be worked, and assistance will still continue to be given in other districts by the veterinarians doing field work, and also by Ihc stock inspectors.