AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 20

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH.

TOP-DRESSING TESTS. NEW ZEALANDER'S OBSERVATIONS Among tho centres of farming research in 'Australia visited by Ml'. Cleorgo A. Green, of Auckland, on his recent visit to tho Commonwealth, was tho Waito Institute of South Australia. It bears a resemblance to tho Cawthron Institute of New Zealand, and owes its existence to tho benefaction of an early pioneer settler, Mr. Waitc, who bequeathed to tho State 100 acres of land, a fino old residence and £60,000 in cash. To this have since been added sundry cash gifts enabling the building of laboratories and offices, at a cost of over £IB,OOO. The institute has no students, tho work done thero being carried out by postuniversity graduates. A most exhaustive test has been in progress for several years to the effect and value of topdressing grasses without any other treatment on somewhat exhausted foothills. Danthonia pastures where the rainfall does not exceed 25in. a year are being treated with superphosphate at the rate of lewt. an acre each year in the main tests. The first year clovers increase, but theso do not appear to persist. Changes in Pastures.

Each year is seeing a great change in tho pasturo content "as to varieties, and some finality as to the present series of tests is awaited with interest. In Mr. Green's opinion, notwithstanding the soil analysis tests—other manures, including basic super, would give even better results, but this can only be determined by actual tests.

The grass land under test is being grazed with sheep, with the exception of one yard square section on each area, "hich is protected from the sheep by closo wire-netting, and the growth cut every 14 days, weighed and analysed, to test fded value. The results aro being recorded and tabulated when tho tests aro completed, or interim reports are furnished. Other tests are in progress, and entomological work will bo undertaken.

The Federal Scientific and Industrial Department is assisting the work of the institute and a very fine range of glasshouses (to be heated) have been built at the expense of the department. At the present time some most valuable research work aiming at the control of soil deficiency and tho disease of cereals known as "take all," is being carried out. Evidence was placed before Mr. Green to show that the disease was caused by a lack of manganese in the soil. When this was supplied (even in the. proportion of 1 to 50,000,000) the results were apparent almost at once, and tho plants recovered. The value of this research work to a wheat producing State could not well bo over stated. The deficiency disease affected oats and other cereals. Tomato Wilt and Lucerne Flea.

It is intended to research in various classes of plant disease affecting economic horticulture At present tomato wilt is being concentrated upon. After all known dustings and sprayings had been tried with negative results, careful investiitions proved that several varieties of plant thrips were the carriers of the disease. Most exhaustive tests aro in progress with a view of determining the thrips' life history and possible control. Meantime, attention is being devoted to tho possible development by plant breeding. of ono or mora immune varieties.

Tho economic valuo of tho work in progress on lucerne is very great. Effort si are at present being concentrated on the pest known as the lucerne flea, which is said to bo responsible for the destruction of, in somo cases, 50 per cent, of the entire crop. The (lea lives on the lucerne plants, eating up a large proportion of tho Ipaves and soft stems. A patch of (lea-infested lucerne is a truly sorrv sight. It is hoped that success will crown the efforts to control this terrible pest. Soul 11 Australia is very fortunate in having such a large, wcll-cquippQ(l research station, attached to its university, and s> close to the great distributing centre of the State. Ihe work carried out there will prove of \alue to others beyond (he confines of the Commonwealth.

Dairying Fodder Values. Some of the features of (ho institute's work that must appeal to those engaged in dairying are tho tests as to the fodder value of the various grasses. No less than 125 species of exotic grasses are giouing in separate plots, while work has been started on the native danlhonias. of which about 100 varieties aro growing, tanging troin pen,- 1 to strong \"i o good feeding perennial species. ' "t\.ilhsfanding that South Australia ' ' •I" CO times the area of New Zealand, '"ill li.i'j iniicli land suitable for dairying, it 1., not an exporter of dairy produce at the present time, tho attention of its settlers being centred largely on wool and grain. 'I lie lack of a good rainfall and the shortage of high country with good streams will largely prevent South Australia from assuming the position of a butter-fat producer, which the State is fitted for by other climatic advantages. While in sumriier tho beat is much hiclier in Adelaide than iu Auckland, still* in winter, both on tho flats and on the hills, more severe frosts aro felt than on tho coast lands of tho iS'orth Island of New Zealand.