AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19492, 29 May 1925, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. (Peb United P®ess Association.) WELLINGTON, May 23. The conference of the Royal Agricultural Society was continued to-day. The president (Mr W. Perry) moved on behalf of the council of the society that, as it is stated by sheop farmers that the prevalence of rust in grass is the cause of a poor percentage of iambs, the Department of Agriculture bo requested to investigate the subject.—Mr J. L. Marshall seconded the motion, which was adopted. Mr Absolum (Hawke’s Bay) moved that, in view of the tremendous spread of blackberry throughout the country, special boards be set up to deal with the pest.—Mr Howard Booth seconded the motion, which was earned. Dr Reakes said that the department was offering a prize of £IO,OOO for the discovery of an effective means, of eradicating blackberry at a reasonable cost. A remit from Stratford was to the effect that the attention by the Government bo drawn to the number of weeds growing on unoccupied Crown lands. —The remit was adopted. On the question that the Government bo requested to provide better facilities for analysing soils, more particularly in agricultural districts, and advising fanners of the manures most, suitable for their lands, Dr Reakes said the department, had carried out a very extensive analysis free of charge. The work of the Cawthron Institute in regard to agricultural research was highly praised by the president. The remit was adopted. A remit was adopted urging the Government to give greater encouragement to agricultural education. It was stated that tnere would bo over 200 fanners at the Hawke’s Bay Farm School next month. During the discussion on the train services to shows the Railway Department’s representative stated that the running of night trains was under consideration in order to got a bigger turnover and to facilitate transport.