7

H.—29

experimental farms, properly conducted, are one important feature. Such farms alone, however, are not sufficient for the country's requirements in this direction, and a special need lies in the provision of capable advisory officers--men possessing both practical and scientific qualifications, who are able to impress farmers with the value of their knowledge, and thus bring about the adoption of their advice, with a resulting increase in the general efficiency of the farming industry. The present instructional staff is doing excellent work in this direction, but it is intended to strengthen it materially. Two officers of sound educational'and practical attainments have already been engaged, and inquiries are being made for others of the right type; these, however, are not easy to secure without depriving other public activities of personnel. The specific scientific services of the Department have a wide scope of activity. The Chemical Laboratory carries out a great volume of analytical work in connection with soils, manures, food plants and food materials, animal-specimens, &c. The Bacteriological Laboratory (Wallaceville) deals particularly with matters connected with the prevention and the control of live-stock diseases, whether scheduled as contagious diseases or otherwise. Other special features of its activities lie in the examination of specimens of all kinds sent in not only by officers of the Department but by stockowners, and also the examination of milk-supplies. The, Biological Laboratory is doing especially good work in seed-testing, and though this is carried out on a purely voluntary basis so far as the senders of samples for testing are concerned, it is of great benefit to pastoralists and agriculturists generally, and undoubtedly goes a considerable way in ensuring that purchasers of seeds secure supplies which are reliable both from the point of view of freedom from serious contamination and in germinating-power. In addition, considerable work is carried out by this section in connection with the identification of plants, and scientific work generally connected with problems affecting animal-food plants, plant breeding and selection, &o. It is intended, as finances allow, to consolidate and further develop these services. Some Points from the Year's Work. Appended hereto are the reports of the Directors of the Live-stock Division, Horticulture Division and Dairy Division respectively, the Fields Instruction and Experimental Farms Branch, the Chemist, the Biologist, and the Chief Hemp-grader, also brief statements on the Grain-grading Service, Publications, and Industries and Commerce. These reports give a comprehensive summarized account of the work and position in their respective fields. A few points of special interest may be briefly noticed here. Live-stock Matters. The favourable position of the live-stock of the Dominion as regards serious disease has been well maintained. It is very satisfactory to record a reduction in the percentage of condemnations for tuberculosis. Among cattle the largest decrease of condemnations is shown in cows ; swine also show a marked reduction. Another good feature is that in no case during the year has the presence of tubercle bacilli been revealed in the analyses of samples of milk taken by the Department's Inspectors from dairies catering for the town supply. Matters connected with cattle-tick (Hoemaphysalis Bispinosa) have received much attention, all interests concerned having been met in conference, and it is intended to deal with the parasites by strict control measures, which will be specified by regulations to be issued shortly. It may be again mentioned that tick-fever is not present in New Zealand, and that stringent measures are maintained to prevent its entry into tho country. With regard to the bush-sickness investigation, steady progress has been made at the Mamaku Farm in spite of serious hindrances, including the influenza visitation, the conditions arising out of the war, and the shortage or stoppage of ordinary and special supplies, &c. A considerable amount of experimental work has been conducted and valuable experience gained, while the development and revenue-producing.side of the farm has received due attention. Double citrate of iron and ammonium (ferri amnion, cit.) has proved a great success as a definite cure, quicker in its action and better than the syrup of phosphate of iron, previously the only known medicinal cure. Experiments are now in progress with a view to the practical application of this discovery in the prevention of tho disease, with every prospect of succe ,s. ' Double tartrate of iron and ammonium (ferri ammon. tart.) was also successful so far as the few experiments went. On the other hand, no success was obtained with lactate of iron (ferrous lactate) either in brick form or as a drench ; nor with acetate of iron (liquor ferri acetati) as a drench. In continuation of former treatment some of the paddocks were top-dressed with lime or with phosphate, As a result of the year's profit-making operations a number of steers and fat cows were sold off the farm. i