SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 15

SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE

DISCUSSION IN UNIVERSITY SENATE. AGRICULTURE TO BE ABA.; SUBJECT. The most important decision arrived at by the University Senate at its sessions on Friday had reference to the importance of instruction in scientific agriculture and tho 'place that this subject snould have in the university curriculum. The matter was introduced by Dr Anderson (Director ol Education), who moved that the subject of agriculture be included among the subjects for the ordinary degree of B.A. and B.So. In doing 60 ho urged the practical importance of making agriculture a pass subject for the B.A. and B.So. degrees. They were endeavouring to increase and improve the teaching of agriculture in the primary and secondary schools. They, were developing Nature study in primary schools as a basis of agriculture, and secondary schools were encouraged to specialise in agriculture. He did not think that any theoretical objections should be allowed to outweigh the immense practical advantages of including this subject in tho degree.. Tho object of the groat majority of our teachers was to obtain a B.A. degree, as they had not the opportunity to do tho laboratory work necessary for the B.So. There was not tho same strong reason for including agriculturo in the B.Sc. degree subjects, because comparatively few teachers sought that degree, but ho thought that it should bo included at tho pass stagQ, as well as at tho advanced stage, of the science degree, in consideration of the special and peculiar position that agriculture occupied in this country. Mr von Haast seconded the motion. Professor Kirk moved as an amendment that Dr Anderson's motion be remitted to the Science and Agriculture Committee, that it may consider the best means of encouraging the study of agriculture. He said that none of them failed to appreciate tho immense importance of the study of agriculture, but they failed to see that it was a suitable subject for degree, save at the advanced stage. Agriculture was not a pure science, but the application of a number of branches of science. He proposed to add the name of Dr Anderson to the committee. Dr Benham seconded the amendment. Professor Macmillan Brown supported Dr Anderson'6 motion, and said it was most essential that teachers should be oncouraged to study tho science and art of agriculture. Especially should it be added to the subjects for the B:A. degree. It was the very life of our country, and we ought to encourage any means of prosecuting the study of agriculture. Tho Hon. Mr Hanan said he would urgently ask the Senate to give the matter its most earnest consideration. He did not think a matter of more outstanding importance had come before it. _ We had to look ahead. It was a question that all who had the welfare of New Zealand at heart would centre on. They wished to give a bias to the education of tho teachers in the direction of agriculture, and they wished the Senate to help them. Professor Hunter supported Professor Kirk's amendment. Ho would oppose tho motion, not because he was not in sympathy with it. but because he did not think it indicated tho best way of bringing about the desired result. Until the Government v, ; ,ri <=o"n the importance of providing money for the study of agriculture little could be done. Professor Segar pointed out that agriculture was not taught in tho colleges, arid that very few teachers went for a B.A. degree. Dr Benham asked how the teachers could get the necessary practical work done for a degree course in agriculture. Unless the course was thoroughly practical it would be an absolute farce Tho Rev. A. Cameron said that tho objections were based on tho present conditions, but thev ought not to rest content with these. He thought the Government was likely to do more, and the Senate should prepare the way for that. Dr Anderson said ho failed to see the force of the contention that agriculturo should not bo included because there was no provision for practical instruction in it. There was before tho Government at the present moment a proposal from Victoria Collego to provide teaching in agriculture to bursary holders. That proposal was in abeyance simnly because the department was not getting the applications. Eight students were received last year, and went for training at Wereroa. This year, if they had a substantial number of applicants, this proposal from Victoria College would have been put into immediate effect. The reason why so few were offering was because the young l fellows were goinp- into military life. The motion was carried by 15 votes to 7, the voting being as follows:—Ayes: Tho Chancellor, Vice-chancellor, Mr Adams. Dr Anderson, tho Rev. A. Cameron, the Rev. W. IT. Evans, tho Hon. Mr Hanan, Mr von FTaast, tho Rev. Professor Hewitson, Mr Mahon. Dr Marshall. Dr M'Dowell. Mr ("Htlor, Mr Tibbs, and the Hon. Mr Tola, Noes: Professor Benham. Professor Chilton. Professor Hight, Professor Hunter, Proiesse.r Kirk, Professor Scott, and Pro- 1 fessor Segar. On the motion of Professor Kirk, Dr An,-*

ilerson's niotion was referred to the Board, of Studies, and the board was requested to draw up a syllabus of the subject. CANTERBURY MABKETS. CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. (Lyttelton Times, January 19.) The- volume of businese transacted during the week has been restricted by the •weather, thrashing having been out of the question on most days.. Spine growers have gone on with the work under most unfavourable conditions, with the result that; parcels of grass seed have reached the stores in a heated i condition. Other samples show the effect of exposure to the continued rain, colour being unsatisfactory. Early in the week the fact .that some . merchants had sold forward, combined with the unfavourable weather outlook, led to Eoeculativo prices being paid. At Rangiora, on Tuesday, _ it is reported, 3s lOd was paid for perennial ryegrass seed, weighing 171 b to 181 b to the bushel, although earlier in the day tho grower had been unable to get as high as 3s 6d offered for tha sample. _ The subsequent temporary improvement in the weather, with a hot nor'-wester on Thursday, led to an easier tondency, and a line of good 261 b to 271 b ryegiass was sold at 3s 6d. Transactions are reported in the neighbourhood of 3s "and 3s 3d, and as low as 2s 3d a bushel, for perennial and Italian ryegrass. Tho market, however, ;eems unlikely to take on any stability until more regular supplies are assured. Cooksfoot-cutting is general on the Peninsula. Labour is plentiful. Tho crop is reported to bo much better than was expected, irhilst tho wet weather has not produced fog us largely as was feared. No farther sales have been reported in the absence of samples. Algerian oats are being offered, and sales hpve taken place at 3s to 3s 3d a bushel. jTarmers are In many cases holding for bigger prices, whijh may result from North Island demand unless the Australian surplus is marketed in New Zealand. Reports of good crop prospects of potatoes are tinged with the news of tho appearance of the dreaded blight in some districts, the result of the humid weather conditions. Some onions are being sold, but the main crop will not bo offered for some time. " TIMARU MARKETS. \ Tho Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press leports: —"Cutting has commenced in several parts of the district; but it is not by any moans general. The weather is still very unsuitable for tho ripening of wheat, but week by week there is a noticeable change in the colour of the crops. Although there are some very good crops, thero are also some very poor ones. In all probability many growers who had antioiputed heavy yields will be greatly disappointed. Some crops which promised well up to a month or six weeks ago are now worthless, and the owners intend to burn them as soon as the straw is dry enough. Those crops have gone down with the rain, turned black, and are in such a. hopeless state of tangle that it would be impossible to cut them. The gazetted price for fair average quality milling wheat la 6s 10d per bushel, f.o.tx, sacks extra, whilst the maximum price that can be paid for other than good millng is 5s Bd, f.0.b., ■aoks extra. Of tho latter a fair quantity

is expected, and it is possible that the maximum price is a basis of value may not be maintained after first requirements are filled. Those South Canterbury millers who are short of supplies of milling wheat are likely to have their stocks replenished at an early date. Tho weather has been against the thrashing of oats, With the result that very little has found its way on to the market so far. A line- of mediumquality seed Algerians was offered in town on the 18th from Temuka district, and found a buyer at slightly over 3s Id (the actual price was not disclosed). Two lines of feed (Algerians) were sold at 2s 9d on trucks, at a handy station. The seed line above referred to was probably wanted for a special purpose. Values are quoted at 2s 9d for feed, and 3s for seed Algerians; Duns and Gartons, for prompt delivery, 3s 3d, on trucks, country stations, sacks extra. Old oateheaf chaff is -off the. market, though there is. a good inquiry for it. New is quoted at £4 per 'ton. Very little ryegrass is being placed before merchants, and most of the parcels submitted have been on the soft side. Buyers are afraid of the keeping qualities of such lines, and are not keen to take them. Perennial is worth 2s to 3s 3d, on trucks, country stations, and cocksfoot Is 8d per lb. There are reports of. blight in a fairly bad form in the potato crops. Should it spread over the whole crop, it would spell ruin to the tubers for this season. The Dunedin market value is about £6 per ton, with a dragging sale, and about £4.10s to £5, on trucks, country stations,', may be quoted as the nominal value in the absence of any business being reported.