SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 7

SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

DR. COCKAYNE IN THE WAIKATO. IMPRESSED WITH'THE COUNTRY. A BKPBESI.XTJITtVK of the Waikato Argus iii conversation with Dr. Cockayne at the Ruakura Experimental Station, was informed of the nature of'the experiment* to be carried out by the Government. They will be more particularly applied to cross fertilisation, said the doctor, a scientific branch of farming which has hitherto been practically neglected in New Zealand, and it is confident anticipated that the results will prove of inestimable value to the farming community as a whole. My instructions have been to commence operations with the New Zealand tiax 'phormium tensx), in order to raise a plant which shall contain a much higher percentage of first -class fibre and which, generally, is more suitable for milling purposes than any ' variety of pliormium known at present. 1 find at Ruakura, thanks to the work of Mr. McGregor, an excellent collection of different forms of flax ready for experiment, and I find that Mr. Green 'is a highly trained botanist, and Mr. Dibble a capable* manager. I have, along with Mr. Green, examined all the different varieties of pliormium glowing on the farm, and 1 have made extensive notes of their distinctive characterstics. By the end of next year, the Ruakura station will be able to* show hybrids between some, of the best varieties, and Mime knowledge will also be gained of the hereditary characteristics of certain distinct forms, and a commencement w*ll be made as to the effect of different soils, climates, and inanities upon the production of fibre. The fanners of the Waikato would very much like an absolutely rust-proof oat, with grain of high-class quality, continued the speaker. Now we cannot promise such a desideratum, in case we might fail ; but- at any rate we shall do out best to produce such an oat,,and that it is not an impossible feat is shown by the successful experiments of Mr. K. H. Biffin, of the Cambridge University, England. It may be asked when so many plant-breeding experiments are being carried on in different countries /why should it hot be sufficient for New Zealand to import the new good varieties, and not trouble about plant breeding at all? The answer to this is that plants* of each legion are best grown undei special conditions the world over, and to find plants suitable, for these special conditions local experiments will alone avail. -ay next move will )>e to the Waerefiga station, as I am having a general look round to see the capabilities of each station in Now Zealand, but at this time of the year one can only plan out experiments for time to, conic. , I am immensely struck with the* potentialities of the country, and very much impressed with the splendid pasturage capabilities of these, wet lands, which when drained are fit for, dairying purposes. Contrasted with the rich lands of Taranaki, Canterbury, and Southland this farm and the adjacent country compare more than ' favourably. Experiments of the nature indicated have in the past only been conducted in a haphazard fashion; but. in the future exact records of everything will be carefully kept and there is no fear of their being lost* sight of in time to come.