RESEARCH AT INVERMAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 9

RESEARCH AT INVERMAY

Large Consignment Of- Dutch Bulbs Arriving Some 32,000 bulbs, comprising mainly tulips, hyacinths, and narcissi, will be arriving at Invermay Experimental and Research Station from Holland shortly. Ivjlr Reinier Odinot, a Dutchman, who has been appointed to the horticultural division of the Department of Agriculture as a bulb specialist, will superintend their inspection on arrival and their delivery to North Taieri. Plans ' for the 'development of the horticultural section of the experimental station have now been completed. These were outlined to the Daily Times yesterday by Mr R. E. Binfield, horticultural superintendent, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin.

An area of approximately nine acres will be used for planting this season, Mr Binfleld said, mainly for bulb trials and experiments and research work generally. In addition, vegetable experimental trials will be carried out on a portion of the land, and a step for the future will be experimental work with small fruits. The technical part of the work of developing the horticultural section at Invermay is under the control of Mr C. K. Ellis, of the division. Prospective Show Place

lights, glasshouses and plant breeding sections. The land has already been planted on three sides of its outer perimeter with poplars, while along the road frontage C. Lawsoniana have been planted. When these are established the old hawthorn hedge will be pulled out. ! In a few years’ time; with the beautifying proposals fully developed, the horticultural section should be very attractive, especially when the bulbs are in bloom, and field days will be held so that the public will have an opportunity of seeing what the division is doing. When it is fully developed there should be many matters of interest for local gardening clubs, horticultural societies and market gardeners. Of the 32,000 bulbs to arrive within the next week or two, 16,000 will be planted out immediately under the instruction of Mr Odinot. The remainder will be boxed and rooted and then placed in cool store at a temperature of between 30 and 35 degrees farenheit until May of next year. This-is a modified form of vernalisation and the work is being done to re-

Plans for the layout of the area have now been completed. When all the work these envisage has been carried out, the division’s section should be one of the show places of Otago. The new roadway into the middle of the block has been cut. The ground on each side of this driveway will be laid down- in lawns, shrubs and flower beds, while administrative buildings will be located at the circular end of the drive. The remainder of the land will be uniformly divided into blocks for bulbs, vegetables, small fruits, Dutch

duce the period necessary for the acclimatisation of the bulbs. If the experiment is successful, the bulbs will be acclimatised 12 months ahead of those which go straight into the ground. This latter group will flower out of season about December and January.

Of the bulbs arriving, there will be 16,000 tulips, 3000 hyacinths, 1800 iris, 2000 anenome, 2000 convallaria (lily of the valley), 6300 narcissi and 200 lillies of nine different species. The bulbs are to be received at Lyttelton where they will be inspeated and fumigated, and then sent forward to Invermay by train. As the area has already produced a crop of potatoes and has since been cultivated, the soil is now in excelcellent condition for the planting. Tests to determine the pH condition of the soil have been carried out, as well as a general survey of the area by the Soil Bureau, a division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Vegetable Trials

Vegetable variety trials with carrots will also be carried out this coming season, and also trials with broccoli, to investigate the- whiptail disease. This disease is prevalent in Otago and Southland, and is thought to be due to a soil deficiency. An endeavour will be made to overcome this disease by the use of molybdium salts. Mr F. M. Bennett, of Canberra,, who has also recently been appointed to the department as a vegetable specialist, will be responsible for the laying down of these trials at Invermay, stated Mr Binfield.

A nursery, now being established, is for the purpose of supplying shelter trees for the whole of the Invermay property, he said.