BETTER HERDS AND WHEAT IN NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18769, 27 May 1929, Page 11

BETTER HERDS AND WHEAT IN NEW ZEALAND.

SCIENTIST SHOWS HOW INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING MADE. The quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to-day was preceded by a luncheon, and was largely attended. Mr Norton Francis (president) was in the chair. Amongst the guests were Mr T. R. Toovey, representing the Port of London Authority, Dr J. Hight, Director of Canterbury College, and Dr H. G. Denham, Professor of Chemistry at the College. Mr Toovey, in reply to the welcome to him, said that Chambers of Commerce in all parts of the world were doing a great deal for the British Empire, educationally, industrially, and in other ways. The principal item was an address by Dr Denham on the work of the Council of the Institute of Scientific Research, of which he is a member. Dr Denham said that he wished first to deal with the mineral deficiency problem in New Zealand, as this Dominion produced about 94 per cent of its exports from the land. Iron, phosphorus, and lime were important ingredients in animals. The percentage of lime was an important factor in the production of milk. Sulphur was another important consideration. The wool supply of Australia was responsible for the permanent removal from pastures of about 33,000,000 lbs of sulphur. In parts of New Zealand, the soil was deficient in iron. A disease prevalent in America and in South Africa was due to a deficiency in sulphur. There was a tremendous problem before New Zealand to discover how much the mineral deficiency here amounted to. The problem required a very concentrated attack. The Pastures. Another question that needed attention was the mineral contents of pastures. It was sometimes found that six times as much sulphur was found in a pound of green grass in the lowlands as in the hill country. When trouble was discovered, it generally was possible to discover a remedy. He was convinced that that could be done in the problem he was discussing. Another matter was the utilisation of farms in a proper way, notably in intensive farming. There was great scope for scientific investigation there. New Zealand farmers were not using their pastures as scientifically as they should be used. Dealing with vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, Dr Denham showed the beneficial results of vitamin investigation in Denmark, and said that an attack on the same lines was being conducted in New Zealand margarine, used other countries, was entirely lacking among certain classes of people in in vitamins, and it was never recommended by doctors as part of the diet of children. There were too many “ duds ” amongst the cows in dairy herds in New Zealand. The butter-fat average here was 200; in Denmark it was 350. Herd-testing was very important. It was only by the elimination of the “ duds ” from the herds that a good average could be secured, and- an increase of lOlbs meant £1,000,000 a year to New Zealand. The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research was working now to increase the wheat yield by the farmer, the quality of flour used by the miller, and the quality of bread produced by the baker. The most important aspect of that problem was the presence of protein in wheat. The institute was trying to discover where the Dominion stood in regard to its wheat. It was hoped to standardise the protein content, in order that farmers might produce finer wheat, of a uniform quality. The prospects for improvement of the wheat yield and of the quality in New Zealand were bright. Sir Francis Boys said that it was very satisfactory to know that Dr Denham and other investigators were issuing, through the Chamber, bulletins that were very informative and educational. It was surprising that the valuable scientific knowledge available had not been taken advantage of before. There was no doubt as to the results of the application of science to the farms. The total gain to the Dominion was enormous. The short address disclosed a remarkable measure of scientific research on Dr Denham’s part. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Dr Denham, on the motion of Sir Francis Boys.