AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 12

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

DR C. J. EEAKES IN ENGLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 19. Since the Agricultural Research Conference ended Dr C. J. Reakes (directorgeneral of the Department of Agriculture) has had a very busy time visiting various institutions throughout the country. He made a second trip to Oxford, where he obtained useful information as to what is being done there in farm engineering and farm economics. In connection with the latter he met Dr C. S. Orwin (director of the Institute for Research in Agricultural Economics, Oxford University), and bad an interesting talk with him. After leaving Oxford, Dr Reakes went to the dairy research station near Reading. “ Here,” said Dr Reakes, ” very good work is being done, and I spent a very interesting time with Dr Stenhonse Williams, who is in control of the station. I revisited Cambridge and went more fully into the work being done there, especially that in connnection with pastures and animal nutrition. I also paid a visit to the fruit research station at East Mailing, where I found good work being done under Mr Hatton, the director. “ This last week I have been to Leeds and Bradford, where I have discussed questions relatinfg to wool research and wool production with Professor A. F. Barker (professor of Textile Industries, Leeds University). I went through his laboratories and experimental and demonstration manufacturing section. At Bradford I met Mr A. Akroyd, with whom I had a very interesting talk regarding woo] matters.” Mr Akrnyd, it mav be mentioned, has been foremost during the past few years in trying to produce a satisfactory all-wool pack to eliminate the vegetable fibre that gets into the wool. Another matter he has been pushing is the production of a branding material free from tar or pitch. Dr Rc-akcs also visited the veterinary school at Leeds University.

In London he has met the meat inspection authorities, and ’has discussed with them the importation of boneless veal from New Zealand. He also paid a visit to Smifhfield Market. “ I found,” said Dr Peakes, “ that a iroi-.d opinion is held of the efficiency of onr meat inspection in Xew Zealand, and I realised that it is necessary to continue to merit this good opinion by maintaining our standards.”