PLANT RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21480, 2 May 1933, Page 12

PLANT RESEARCH

VALUE TO FARMERS THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE VIEWS OF DR. TILLYARD The value of sciontific plant research to a country which, like New Zealand, relies for its wealth on the soil was stressed yesterday by Dr. It. J. Tillyard, formerly of the staff of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, and now director of the Bureau of Entomology for the Australian Government. With Mr. E. Cheel, Australian Government botanist, Mr. E. C. Andrews, retiring Government geologist, and Dr. Ida A. Brown, geologist, of Sydney, he is passing through Auckland by the Niagara on his way to attend the Pacific Science Congress, which will bo hold in Vancouver from June 1 to 14. The importance to New Zealand of such sciontific institutions as the Cawthron Institute was emphasised by Dr. Tillyard, who said ho had noted with regret statements that the future of tho institute was in jeopardy. "The value of the Cawthron Institute to the Dominion cannot be over-estimated," he said. "I know for a fact that ono such institute, working more or less independently, can do more good in the long run than' a dozen State departments. Along with Vhers who havo worked at Cawthron, I feel justly proud of the institute's achievements." Dr. Tillyard recalled that prior to his departure for Australia five years ago ho had been working on the ragwort problem. He had hoped that tho introduction of the tyria jacobaea moth would destroy the growth of the weed, but apparently the moth had not been suited by the climatic conditions. This possibility had not been overlooked, as there were dofinito weaknesses in tho chrysalis stage of development. The destruction of ragwort by sodium chlorate treatment, using unemployed labour, was an excellent step, but the process wotild undoubtedly prove expensive. Research would ultimately provide a natural solution to the problem. It had to be realised, however, that ragwort was only one of a number of serious menaces against which the researches of the scientist constituted the farmers most effective shield. Ragwort was not a very serious problem in Australia, Dr. Tillyard continued, and was comparatively easy to keep in check. However, numerous agricultural and pastoral pests had to _ bo fought by his department, and the immense area under his supervision added to the difficulties of the. work.