SOIL RESEARCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 17 January 1928, Page 7

SOIL RESEARCH

EMPIRE PROBLEMS VALUABLE INFORMATION A WORLD CONFERENCE Among the passengers who returned by the Makura from San Francisco yesterday was Mr T. Rigg, agricultural chemist of the Cawthrrvn Institute and member of the New Zealand Research Council, who went abroad as one of the New Zealand delegates to the International Soil Congress held at Wash-, iugton, U.S.A., and to % the Imperial. Agricultural Conference ' which was held in London. While, in the United Stales and Great Britain, Mr Rigg enjoyed special facilities for seeing the work df the more import ant agricultural , experimental stations in both countries. Speaking to a "Post" reporter Mr Rigg said that the Soil Congress at Washington was the first _ of its kind to be held in connection with the International Society, and was attended by delegates from all parts of the world, including nineteen representatives cf the British Empire. The work of the congress covered all phases of soil problems and crop production. One of the most interesting features of the gathering was a special discussion on the methods of soil' classification and soil mapping. At the. conclusion of the conference the. foreign delegates were the guests of the American Organising Committee in a tour of the United States and Canada. Special studies were made by Mr Rigg of the fruit and tobacco industries ,of the United States at the request of the New Zealand 'Research Council. A special visit was paid to the animal nutrition station at Wisconsin University, where similar work lias been in progress for a number of years to that now being undertaken in connection with the mineral contents of pastures investigation in New Zealand. s The Imperial Agricultural Conference, which was held in London in October, was attended by representatives from all parts of the Empire. The object of the conference was the development of the agricultural resoin-ces of tho Empire. As a means of securing this special discussions took place on tho training and recruitment of agricultural research workers, the exchange and dissemination of information in connection with the agricultural problems of all parts of the _ Empire, the formation in Great Britain of Imperial bureaux which would serve as Empire centres for the dissemination of information, and the fostering of agricultural research throughout the Empire. Discussions also took place on the subject of the development of tropical dependencies which in the past have not received the attention they deserve. A scheme for the establishment of a chain of research stations was considered and approved by the conference. It was decided to hold the conference every five years, the next to be in Australia. At the . conclusion of the conference special facilities were given to all visiting delegates to see the more important agricultural research stations of Great Britain and to meet the scientific staffs. At the request of the New Zealand Research Council, Mr Rigg made an examination of the woollen, leather, and cereal products research associations of Great Britain.

Mr Rigg will return to Nelson at the end of the week. •