SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 641, 18 April 1929, Page 10

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

WORK PROCEEDS APACE DEPARTMENT’S REPORT Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Extracts from the report of ths Department of Scientific and Industrial Research state that good reports are to hand regarding the damage done to ragwort by the larvae of Tyria Jacobaeae. “It is unforunate, from the point of view of noxious weeds research work, that w© are losing to Australia the services of Mr. Tonnoir,” states the report. “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 open texture in cheese, but it is yet too soon to evaluate 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 their arrival by the staff of the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge, England, and. judging by the report on 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 of the station being engaged upon a wide rang* of problems connected with pastures and economic crops. “Dr. Frankel. wheat geneticist, assistant to Dr. Hilgendorf. has arrived, and has taken up his duties at Lincoln College. The work at the wheat research laboratory is in full swing on the investigations connected with the present season’s grain. Some thousand samples of wheat from all parts of the grain-growing districts of both islands have been assembled at the laboratory' for tests. The directors report dealing with the correct naming of a large number of varieties grown throughout Canterbury an d Otago, together with the steps taken to certify. Good supplies of seed wheat will help in the production « those desirable types of grain most useful to millers and bakers. “A scheme to deal with the very difficult question of wool research ha been evolved after careful consideration by a committee. The pr®,®*? in the Dominion of Dr. J. E. Nicho* was of great assistance in the formulating of a plan of local research, amwith the Empire scheme of investigations.”