PROBLEMS OF THE SOIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 13

PROBLEMS OF THE SOIL.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.

DOMINION DELEGATE’S IMPRESSIONS.

WELLINGTON. January 16. ! Among the passengers who returned by the Makura from San Francisco this morning was Mr T. Rigg, agricultural chemist of the Cawthron Institute and a member of the New Zealand Research Cqtmcil,who went abroad a« one of the Npw ' Zealand delegates to the International Soil Congress hgld at'Washington; ana to the Imperial ‘Agricultural Conference which was held in London. While

in th e United States and Great Britain Mr Rigg . enjoyed special . facilities for seeing the work of the more important agricultural experimental stations in both countries.

Speaking to-day, Mr Rigg said that the Soil Congress at Washington was the first of its kind to be held in connection with the International Society, and was attended by delegates from’ all parts of the world, including 19 representatives of the British Empire. The work of the congress covered all phases of soil problems and crop production. One of the most interesting features of the gathering was a special' discussion oh the methods of soil classification and soil mapping. At the conclusion of the conference the foreign delegates were the. guests of the American organising committee in a tour of the United States and Canada- Special studies were made by Mr;.Rigg of the fruit and tobacco industries of the United States. At the request of the New Zealand Research Council, a special visit was paid to the animal nutrition station at Wisconsin University, where similar work has been in progress tor a number of years to that now being undertaken in connection with the investigation into the mineral contents of pastures in New Zealand. The Imperial Agricultural Conference, which was held in London in October, was attended* by representatives from all parts of the Empire. The object of the conference was the development of the agricultural resources of the Empire. As a means of securing this special discussions took place on the training and recruitment of agricultural research workers, the exchange and dissemination of information in connection with the . agricultural problems of all parts of the Empire, the formation in Great Britain of Imperial bureaux, which would serve as Empire cehtrps. for the disseminatiop ’ of ipformaVpn, and the fostering of agricultural research- throughout the Empire. Discussions also took place on the subject of

the development of the tropical dependencies which in th e past have not received the attention they deserve. A scheme for the establishment of a chain of research stations was considered and approved by the conference. It was decided to hold the conference every five years, the next to be in Australia. At e . conclusion of the conference special facilities were given to all the visiting delegates to see the mor e important agricultural research stations of Great Britain and to meet the scientific staffs. At the request of the New Zealand Research Council, Mr Rigg made an examination of the woollen, leather, and cereal products research associations of Great Mr E,gg will return to Nelson on Friday.