VALUABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 4

VALUABLE WORK

SOIL RESEARCH IN BRITAIN STUDY OF DEFICIENCIES AIDING AGRICULTURE (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) LONDON, September 2. After visiting a number of leading agricultural researoh institutes ana universities in England, Scotland, and Wales, Sir Theodore Rigg ? Director of Cawthron Institute, in Nelson, returned ■to London impressed by the very valuable work being done in these institutions, particularly by British research into the problems of soil deficiencies. These last have a direct bearing upon similar problems encountered in the pumice and granite soils in both islands of New Zealand.

The most important work upon diagnosis of the deficiencies of minor elements in soils was being done at East Mailing Research Station, and the Macaulay Institute of Soils, Aberdeen, said Sir Theodore. Considerable Erqgress has been made in tracing decencies likely to affect both plants and animals, and deficiencies of manganese, magnesium, and iron identified in a number of different crops in various parts of England. It was particularly interesting to find that the animal diseases division in Edinburgh and the Macaulay Institute both discovered cobalt deficiencies in granite soils in Scotland, in certain parts of the Cheviots, and in the calcareous soils' of the Island of Tyree, in the Inner Hebrides. It was this same deficiency which was responsible for wasting disease among cattle and sheep pastured on the same New Zealand pumice soils, and which was also identified in granite soils in parts of the South Island. GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS.

Unfortunately, owing to the presence of much glacial drift among the many geological formations found in the British Isles, soil survey work was difficult, and had not yet progressed, as far in Britain as in New Zealand. Soil survey research was now being reorganised, however, and proposals for the establishment of a soil survey division under Dr Muir at Rothamsted Experimental Station should result in considerable extensions of this important work in Britain. The Maeaulay Institute was employing a system of spectroscopic identification of soil Op ficiencies which should have useful results when applied in N e W Zealand. In addition to the work on soil deficiencies, Sir Theodore said he was impressed by the extensive fertiliser experiments being conducted at Rothamsted, These experiments were giving a broad picture of the fertiliser requirements of different crops under the rotational system of grazing. Very detailed studies were also' being carried out at Longashton into the nutrition of fruit trees, small fruits, and vegetables, and valuable research into animal nutrition problems was being done at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen.

British research institutes were better equipped than those in New Zealand, particularly for spectroscopic examination of soils and plants. The institutes were staffed by highly-quali-fied men, and were able to undertake more fundamental studies than was at present possible in 'New Zealand. Strong financial support, was given by ,tha British Government; to this work, both through the Ministry of: Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Council, This support was given quite impartially to Government institutions, universities, and independent research organisations such as Rothamsted, Rowett, and Macaulay. NEW ZEALAND'S EFFORTS.

Sir Theodore said he was gratified to find everywhere in Britain that the work of New Zealand agricultural science investigators was held in very high esteem, and its importance recognised not only to New Zealand, but also to agricultural science as a whole, It was the general impression in Britain that New Zealand has done exceptionally well in the application <>f soience to the problems or agriculture. He was Hopeful that if the recommendations of the recent Imperial Scientific Conference were implemented by

the various Governments an interchange of scientists between Britain and other parts of the Empire would, be greatly facilitated. It was most necessary not only that New Zealanders should have frequent opportunities to study British methods, but that senior British investigators should also have frequent opportunities to go to countries such as New Zealand to study their problems on the spot, He was also convinced that, well as New Zealand had done, more and better equipment was needed, as well as a more attractive salary and superannuation scale in order to attract the best qualified men. Sir Theodore will leave for New Zealand about September 18.