RESEARCH WORK

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 8

RESEARCH WORK

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

ACTIVITIES OF DEPART-

MENT

EXTRACTS FROM REPORT (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April IS. Extracts from the report of the Department of Scientific and industrial Research state: — Good reports are to hand regarding the damage done to ragwort by the larvae of the tyria jacobaeae. It is unfortunate from the point of view of noxious weeds research work that we are losing to Australia the services of Mr Tonnoir. The question of his replacement is difficult. owing to the dearth of qualified entomologists, and it appears that there are no suitable investigators available locally without robbing other important lines of work.

Investigations at the dairy research institute are being concentrated on the problem of the open texture in cheese, but it is yet too soon to calculate the results secured to date.

Regular experimental shipments of fruit (apples and pears) have been forwarded by vessels leaving for the United Kingdom. They will be examined on arrival by the staff of the low temperature research station at Cambridge, England, and, judging by the report on the last year’s fruit shipments, very valuable information should be forthcoming. The plant research station at Palmerston North is now functioning fully, the scientific staff station being engaged upon a wide range of problems connected with pastures and economic crops.

Dr. Frankel, wheat geneticist assistant to Dr. Hilgcndorf, has arrived and has taken up his duties at Lincoln College. Work at the wheat research laboratory is in full swing on investigations connected with the present season’s grain. Some thousand of samples of wheats from all parts of the grain-growing districts of both islands have been assembled at the laboratory for tests. The director’s report dealing with the correct naming of a 'large number of varieties grown throughout Canterbury and Otago, together with the steps taken to certify good supplies of seed wheat, will help in the production of those desirable types of grain most useful to millers and bakers.'

A scheme to deal with the very difficult question of wool research has been evolved after careful consideration by the committee. The presence in the Dominion of Dr. J. E. Nichols was of great assistance in formulating a plan of local research, allied with the Empire scheme of investigations.