PLANT RESEARCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21211, 5 December 1938, Page 5

PLANT RESEARCH

New Unit at Lincoln College Contemplated Activities By Telegraph —Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. A considerable extension of grasslands research in Canterbury will be undertaken by the establishment at Lincoln, now begun, of a unit of the Grasslands Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. An officer of the department has been transferred from Palmerston North to Lincoln and the ultimate aim is to establish a self-controlled unit with its own buildings, implements, and staff. Collaboration with the Canterbury Agricultural College is part of the programme of the new unit, which is discussed in a report presented to the committee of the Plant Research Bureau at its meeting at Lincoln yesterday. Emphasis is laid in the report on collaboration, without rivalry, with the Department of Agriculture. “First and foremost, the policy is to establish at Lincoln an efficient sub-station in close collaboration with the Agronomy Division, but not under the jurisdiction of the Agronomy Division,” states the report. The work will be centred at Lincoln, as the report states: “The work at Lincoln must come first, collaboration with Canterbury Agricultural College second, and outside field work last.”

Tire immediate programme of the sub-station, as outlined by the report includes the following contemplated activities:—

“Strain testing and guide to breeding for Canterbury conditions. “The raising of nucleus stocks of pedigree seeds, one acre of each of the following to be established next autumn: (1) Perennial ryegrass, (2) Italian ryegrass, (3) Montgomery red clover, (4) white clover. “Comparative measurement trials on a broadcast, row and single plant basis of pedigree, certified and ordinary uncertified strains.

“To act as a demonstration area for interested seed merchants and farmers in Canterbury. “The ultimate testing policy to envisage fencing and grazing by stock. “As an ultimate policy, collaboration with the Canterbury Agricultural College in measurement trials on an animal basis, particularly in regard to pedigree pastures, certified pastures, uncertified pastures, seed mixtures, fertilisers, etc.

“Contact with field trials under the Department of Agriculture and occasional visits to these in company with Department of Agriculture officers or with their cognisance."

There must be, the report states, “as healthy and helpful collaboration with the Department of Agriculture as is possible, but on no account so as to establish a spirit of rivalry; and any work contemplated outside of Lincoln to be entered upon only after the work at Lincoln has received full attention."

It is planned that the sub-station shall be kept in close touch by a periodic exchange of visits by the officers in charge, in the initial stages of the establishment of the station, the Agronomy Division at Lincoln is providing accommodation and sharing its implements and labour.