SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13350, 7 April 1914, Page 4

SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

AX UNDEVELOPED FIELD

Mr A. Drummond, president of the Ash burton Agrinnll'm'al and Pastoral Association, in his address at the annual meeting, j-uid : There Mas a. much wider field open to an association of that kind, and it Mas to be. hoped, iiom* the question of the most ' suitable season for holding tinshow had been settled, .that' that field would be more fully developed than it had. been during the past few years. Scientific experiments in the raising of grain aud root clops, such as had been conducted, with the assistance of the Government, a tew years ago, might be arranged, and regular lectures on the breeding and care of stock, by recognised authorities', might again be instituted. It Avas to be hoped now that tlie important, bearing;, of .science on ag riciilture was being more fully recognised, that greater support would be given to the association in "any efforts it might make in that direction in 'the future. In these days of prosperous, seasons. Mitli high prices^ ruling for mo'ft classes of farm and daiiy -produce, thev M-ei^e very apt to repose in the false belief that all was well, and that the Jean years which most of them lutd experienced in the past, were gone for ever; but. 'he- was of opinion tliat the everincreasing competatiohX <on the Home market ; from abroad and the advent of less favorable seasons, would compel them to look more than ever to the men of science to. assist them in replacing in the soil those properties which were constantly being taken from it, and which were so necessarj; for the successful raising of grain 'crops and -grasses'. The introduction of rural, courses in the. evllabufl of the Hij-h and Technical •=-*hools. Mould, he had no doubt have the effect of better equipping theorising generations to cope, with the .complex questions m regard to the land and it? productiveness, M-ould soon eliminate to_a kirga extent, the elements of chance which had attended their operations' in tlie past and would -make them more independent of climatic conditions than their forefathers had been.