AN AGRICULTURAL DISCOVERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 4

AN AGRICULTURAL DISCOVERY

While heretofore Burbank, the Californian plant wizard, could beaut of having made two potatoes grow where only one grew bolore, now an innovation in agriculture is supplying the way for any man, woman, or chad who lias a garden to do likewise, (aaya a writer os l.h i New- York American;. And the factor which supplies this possibility is known technically as Baboo Thermo-Gen. if, is an asphalt-treated felt used for covering* the soil and serving to increase tile, growth of plants, It Is laid in rows on the soil, and causes the retention of heat and moisture m the ground. And it is doing something tvluc-h is causing farmers of the Pacific Coast to watch the experimental work being conducted with interest; it is killing Morning Glory, the banc to the fanner’s existence. The invention was evolved by C. F. Eckcart, of Hawaii, after yearn of toil and experimenting. In the islands the now idea was (list used to stimulate the growth of pine, apples. It stimulated thorn to the extent, of 40 rK;r cent., and became swell an important adjunct to tho cullivaliou of thr-.so delicacies that to-day virtually every grower uses it. Scores to teats have proved aiicccHsfn! : othens aro still in their experimental Ht.xgr, with indications pointing toward eventual success. At, the University of California's experimental station at Davis the new moisture retainer was used with great success in cultivating the growth cf naepbcrric.s.