SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 12

SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

LORD BLEDISLOE'S REMARKS.

VALUE OF GRASS FEEDING.

RESEARCH WORK APPRECIATED.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] • PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday.

Excellent advico was tendered to farmers by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when speaking at a smoke concert held by tho Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

"I hopo you will hesitate very much," said His Excellency, " before having recourse to artificial feed for your sheep and cattle, because the great merit of your lamb and mutton is that it is grass fed. It has a flavour not to bo found where artificial concentrated feed for stock is used.

" You might ask what you are going to do in the winter when feed is short. I believe that scientists shortly aro going to tell us that, and the day is coming when grass will be dried out and jiressed into cubes, providing natural feed. " Among other exhibits which I saw at the show to-day," said Lord Bledisloe, " was one providing evidence of what can bo done on lato aftermath pastures. I saw a pen of fat lambs, a cross between Romney Marsh and Southdowns, which would comparo with any fat stock in any agricultural show in the Old Country. They fully deserved first prize. I have -seen many fat lambs, but I have never seen a better bunch than in that pen. Value o! Root Crops. u Will you forgive me if I throw a little doubt npon a certain class of root which is all very well at harvest thanksgivings in the Old Country, but not suitable for an agricultural show from a strictly economio point of view. Those largo roots, particularly mangels, contain about 86 per cent, of water. They have not the density or specific gravity of smaller roots, making it doubtful whether they aro strictly an economic proposition. By growing a number of smaller roots of greater density and higher value on the same plot of ground, there is created a more economio proposition. That is tho growing view of scientists. I should like to find out whether agricultural chemists have made an analysis of the type of large British root alongside the smaller Danish, and if they aro able to tell us which is better from an economic point of view. However, I come here as a stranger, perhaps I should not make these rash statements." Scientific Research. "I want to say this in appreciation of the scientists' work," observed His Excellency. "I do not think any country has more enlightened, more energetic, or more practical men than tho scientists operating in agricultural interests in this country. That view is not entiroly my own, but is fully shared by Sir John Russell director of the Rothamstead Agricultural Station, Professor Stapledon, in charge of tho Plant Research Station, Aberystwyth, and Mr. Orr, of the Rowctt Institute, Aberdeen. All havo expressed the some view as I myself have formed." Continuing, His Excellency stated that no longer wa3 the agricultural scientist an individual research worker. He was part of a team, no matter what his appellation. Ho was oxpected to bo an economist as well as a scientist, to state his discoveries in terms of pounds, shillings arid pence, otherwise none would listen to him. He had to givo commercial results. Lord Bledisloe agreed with tho remarks of tho Minister of Agriculture regarding the productivity of soil. Ho instanced tho development of pumico lands and said he was extremely optimistic concerning the future of farming in tho Dominion.