ELECTRICITY ON FARMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 November 1929, Page 10

ELECTRICITY ON FARMS

NOVEL USES SUGGESTED.

WELLINGTON, November 25. _ The Committee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research recently set up to deal with the relationsh p of electricity to agriculture, at its recent meeting, traversed the mam phases of the matter. , The application of electricity to general farming operations was one subject of discussion, and covered a wide scope. In respect to sheep-shearing the opinion was expressed by several members of the Committee, that tte present cost of a sheep-shearing outfit appeared to be excessive, and that a larger demand would arise if the price were brought down to what appeared to be a reasonable one for the amount of work involved in the machine. It was decided to make enquiries as to whether a smaller and simpler outfit could not be obtained for use by small farmers. It was considered by the Committee that there are many places in New Zealand where, with water at a comparatively little depth, irrigation would be worth while. . It was therefore resolved to obtain information on this point. Threshing, ploughing, and other allied farm operations could all be aided by the use of electricity, it was stateed, and a special sub-committee was est up to deal With this side of the question. Electricity in dairy-farming operations also came undei’ consideration. Other possible uses of electricity, it was stated, and a special sub-commit-tee was est up to deal with this side of the question. Electricity in dairy-farming operations also came under consideration. Other possible uses of electricity discussed included electric motors for fruit spraying, the use of electricity in drying tobacco, and dehydrating fruit, its use in greenhouse heating, and in heating the ground as a means of pre-* venting frosts in orchards, and as a heater for incubators.

The various uses of electricity for domestic purposes were also under review.

Certain poultry-farmers, it was stated, were already investigating the advantages of having electric lights in hen houses, in order to start the hens scratching earlier in the day. ‘ Another novel use for electric light, it was suggested, would be to use it to attract the beetle of the grass grub, thereby luring it to its doom 'in an insectocutor. The Committee’s deliberations on these subjects were generally of a preliminary nature, in order that a comprehensive programme of investigational work could be drawn up.