BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10107, 15 October 1917, Page 6

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

HO AIK HIT ’O.M.M KXI )AT lOX S. The. .Hoard of Agriculture held several lengthy meetings last wry!., at which important matters concerning the agricultural and pastoral industry wen- discussed. Tliw-e was a large attendance- of membins, and tin- president (Hir James, G. Wilson) was in the chair. The- question of the shipping and storage space for meat and dairy produce, and other matters were fully gone into with the lion. \V. 1 ). H. .Mac Donald, .Minister for Agriculture, who was present at the. meeting. Export nf meal. It was pointed out that although the latest sheep returns show » large increase in the North Island, there has been a. heavy mortality amongst hoggets. and the lambing in many districts is nuK'h below the average, which would probably do away with a. considerable percentage of the sin pliw, yet the Hoard thought it would be in tin* interests of the country that farmer,-,, should Ire advised that owing- to the. shortage of shipping >1 would probably not be practicable to freeze and find space for till the slock coining to hand, and urge them to provide winter feed wherever possible to la a.r any lambs that 'might lie left over. It was also decided to recommend that farmers should re. tain the best of their Imig-woolled ewe lambs for breeding purposes, and that arrangements should be made to tin iy number of second chins fat. old ewe-, and in order that this might lie done, to request the Goveminiiii to make enquiries as to the possibility of securing a good supply ol (■ritir.li or American tin plates for the purpose. The* Hoard also recommended' that, to en urc the fieizing space being occupied to lie fullest extent with the primest meat, it .was desirable that the inspectors passing the. meat purchased by the Imperial Government. should he more strict as to quality. <o that only linislu d animals should be killed and sent Home.

Price <if sheep ,s!;iu.-!. —A mc-mlx-i- ol the P»oaril c;:ilf-cl uttcniion to tin- diet. • ii:i t hut< hers ami farmers were toni ji la Ini i ifi’ t lia.i tin; 11 rices they wore ice* ivin.tr for. Steep skins was under that :m a aged for wim the Imperial (.!i>vernment, and it was decided to request tin- Minister' to make enquiries as to whether funn- such steps could not lx* taken tr> remedy the complaint. Stud and Flock Hooks. — Ihe Hoard met a number of representatives front the t'lvdesdidc Horse Society, the Draught Horse Stud Hook ((AmU rbury). the North Island Sheep Breeders’ Axseeiatiou, and consulted with them .as to the_ jzossibility of arranging for an amalgarnatioti ot the various breed societies in the Dominion, so that there will not- be more than one Association for any one breed, and of forming a. National Live-stock for New Zealand. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to refer the question <>f adopting uniform rules, and one or two other points to the. Councils of the respective Associations for their approval, t>n receipt oi replies, should the matter warrant it. a further meeting ( 'f d-Tegales trom the so/iclics interested would he held in V\ ellington t" cnfh'avour vs come to a tinal decision. It was also agreed that the conference of ad breed associations to consider the matter of tin- formation of a National Live-stock Association should he deferred, pending- the adjustment oi. the question ol rules, etc. Exportation of inferior stud sheep.— Ihe I’.oard also discussed the advisableness of Government taking powers to prohibit the exportation of inferior, stud sheep, and arrangements were made to obtain a report front .tin- Department of Agriculture astothe best method of coping with this trouble. Collection of sheep sdaslkstiw:, —A number of suggestions were received from Mr hj. llardcastto, ii.gnenltund editor of tin-phrist-church Wo-klv Press, in regard p< the dale of collecting "sheep statistics, pointing out. that if the" statistics could be obtained earlier in the season, fanners would have a belter idea as to whether it was d'-rfirab.e (o retain more owe la.mbs and ewes Hi itaid- for breeding, instead of killing and freezing (hem, and prices would then automalically rule the position. It was decided to oommiinica.te with the (oooi'iunent Statistician and to ascertain how far Jt would he practicable- to give elTecl to this suggest ion under the present stress ot work entailed on that Department in consequence of lhe war. Wool packs.—lt was. reported that tiewool packs required by the. sleep-owners would probably arrive in tie- Dominion m time for tie; present season s .shearing.

KK-irieitv on eu.'p.-.—A report was received from Mr K. Parry, chief .'electrical eiiginerf. Public Works Department, with regard to the applicalion oi electricity to. the ,sliinulaliou of crooS and tie- results obtained bv Professor Pihe-kmaii, Profc-wr hj? Plant. Physiology and Pathology, South Kensington. for which a special grant laid been i,mile bv lb*- Development GommiKsionm m E-.iglaml. It.was stated th.-d in 1915, an merease * T alioui 50 tier cent, in grain and ,15 jr-r e'-ii' in straw on a crop of oats was obtained as a result from over-head electnea dl: eliarge. Mr Parry., however, doubted whether the ga.in to be obtained would be so' -real in New Zealand as in England, v.hn-e they had much less sunshine than there is in'ibis country; but he expressed the opinion that there was no doubt a held for its application to the stimulation ot special crops-, such as garden and fruit, and hoped to In- able To make arrangements lor tK,ting .the application of this nteth.od to the our|iose named. Amongst other matters dealt with wete the High Cimmissiom-r'i weekly market cable. earmarking and branding _ slock, “draft" on wool, the importation of grass seeds, organisation oi female labour for farm work, prices .for next season's butter and cheese, rural .housing, the Scot I- Kllhnvn pjoee.-s for direel fixation of atmosI'hevic nitrogen, and development ol the poultry industry. The wheat question.— A committee ol the Hoard later met the chairman of the Board of Trad*.' and again discussed the wheat question. It was arranged that alter the Board of Trade had made an exhaustive on. quiry into the question in the South Island, a joint meeting of the two Boards should be held for the purpose- of giving the matter 1 fall