WOOL IMPROVEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 7

WOOL IMPROVEMENT

SCIENTISTS HELP INDUSTRY. SYDNEY', Feb. 8. Experts of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at present are concentrating on work of special interest in the wood industry. Attention is particularly being devoted to a close study of the building up of the sheep and the production of wool under Australian conditions. The chairman of the council, Sir George Julius, in an interview with The Sunday Sun,” emphasised the great efforts some of Australia’s competitors’ are making to capture inarKets in which we now hold a leading position. "We know,” he pointed out, “that Japan is endeavouring to establish wool raising in Northern China; South Africa is expanding her production; Peru is developing country quite suitable for Merino sfieep; and other potential competitors in the world s market are by no means id'e. Study of Diseases “Thus we have diligently to go on with our research, so that we can proI duce tne very best. This involves endless study not only in how to use the wool, but in proper nutrition.” Scientists were engaged in the major woik of gaining a better knowledge of the intestine disease of sheep that reduced their vitality and so impaired the quality of their wool. • > ,i.u. .m.aiel; ,” said Sir George, '“such parasites are very common and ( damaging, in Australia. Then, again, uieic i> me question of nutrition, ' which has sueh a vital bearing on the ; quality and quantity o£ the wool. Drought Interference | “Our competitors all over the world are looking to the improvement of their own wool. Unless we do that, too, and get a better understanding of the factors concerned in production aud nutrition —oeguining wi.-i tut so.. —we cannot hope to obtain tile best return for our wool and meat. Sir George Julius referred to valuable research carried out by the Institute in Queensland regarding one particular complaint in sheep which seriously affected wool production. Marked improvement was shown iu quality and quantity, but these experiments were interrupted by drought conditions. “Among the immense amount of fundamental research that has been done,” he adedd, “is, for instance, that of the coast disease in South Australia, where you have a belt of country 25,000 square miles in extent, "ood from every point of view but sheep raising. “Our scientists have been at work there for some time. It is near completion, and there is a prospect that the whole aspect of sheep production in that a?ea will be altered.”