WHEAT RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 15

WHEAT RESEARCH

WORK AT LINCOLN COLLEGE TALK BY MR. W. E. LEWISHAM The research work being done at Lincoln Agricultural College was highly praised by Mr. W. E. Lewisham during a talk at the weekly luncheon of the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday. Mr. Lewisham, who spoke on tho subject "Grain and Produce," said that experimental work at Lincoln College covered not only grain but seed crops. Previously a class of wheat had been evolved which was suitable for the light Canterbury Plains, but which, when sown on rich and heavy land, grew so tall that it was severely damaged by wind. Workers at Lincoln College, he/said, were now concentrating on a strain which would throw a short stalk on rich and heavy land. Tho story of tho wheat industry in Canada and the progress which was still being made there were also described by Mr. Lewisham. Through the work of experimental stations founded there since 1898, ho said, it had been possible to cut tho enormous annual losses from rust, and this year there had been distributed to every grower wheat which was free from that blight. "While no one would say it was perfect, the grafting system for New Zealand grain and produce is now much better than in what are called 'the had old days'," Mr. Lewisham declared. Before 1.91.7, he said, the system hrd many inherent weaknesses. X'roduco grown in the South Island for shipment to tho North was often graded by men who in some places were paid by the shippers. A conference held in 1917 brought about preat changes, and the terms and conditions, tho speaker said, held with a fow modifications Thanks to tho speaker for his address were returned by tho honorary treasurer, Mr. Ralph Postlos.