SCIENTIFIC AID

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 85, 26 June 1930, Page 4

SCIENTIFIC AID

A TREMENDOUS PART VAST EXPERIMENTAL WORK. IMPROVING DOMINION PRODUCE. WELLINGTON, June 25. "Anyone who has to do with presentday farming in -New Zealand will realise the important part science and scientilic investigation will play in the farming of the future," said Air W. Perry, President of the New Zealand Royal Agricultural (Society in his address to the an- j nual conference to-day. They nad many problems to look into, Mr Perry said, some of which would be solved quickly, while others would take years of study to get useful results. They had to look, more than ever, to the scientist for assistance, both in growing and preparing produce for the overseas market. At present, a number, ol different varieties of wheat, introduced from all the countries of the world, was being tried at Lincoln College with a view to acclimatisation and tO finding some particular variety better suited to New Zealand conditions than were jhe present established types. The Wheat. Research Institute, Christchuich, had co-operated with the Plain Uesearcli (Station,, in the development of wheat-breeding, selection and held experimental trials, but the initial wheat breeding experiments had notgiven such promising results as were ; hoped for. Results clearly indicated that j experiments must be earned on at a much greater mussed sale than hitherto. The Dairy Research institute of Palmerston North had been concentrating largely upon solving the problem of openness in cheese. Unfortunately no great progress of a positive kind had been made toward devising a means for overcoming this ditiiculty. Similar efforts being made to improve the ! quality and value of butter and wool. Arrangement had been made for Mr D. Sidey ; of the staff of Lincoln College, to proceed to England where he would take pari inthe investigation of the quality of New Zealand wools, ascertaining the uses to which they could besl be put.

During the year, the most comprehensive technical examination of New Zeu- | land mutton and lamb ever carried out I was undertaken at a number of selected 'freezing works throughout the DominI ion. The main object of the work was ■concerned with loss of bloom and the I loss of weight occurring in New Zealand land) and mutton, it was anticipated that ti report on these investigations would bo issued early in the spring, j Quick freezing was also being investigated :inii might result in radical changes in the present system of retailing meat. Reference was also made to the development of the pork industry and the president sain it was very pleasing to note the improvement shown in ; the following export figures:—

1927 Bfi,227cwt.; value £333,381; 1928 I2l,oi)Bcwt.; £4.0(4,010; 1029 lG9,4Boc\vt.; £033,027.