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DAIRY RESEARCH. The principal aim of the investigations at the Dairy Research Institute has been the improvement in the quality of butter and cheese, and investigations have proceeded in every direction which appeared to have any bearing upon quality. As a consequence, the industry has been assisted in a number of matters connected with handling of milk on the farm, with manufacturing-processes, and with transport conditions, whereby it has been possible to raise the general level of the quality of butter and cheese exported. An important factor to this end has been the annual weekly discussion with factorymanagers, at which all the year's research results are discussed. The enthusiastic interest of factorymanagers in these meetings is a pleasing feature. Marked progress has attended efforts designed to improve the flavour and spreadability of butter exported to the British market, and it now seems possible to cater for some of the distinctive tastes which are characteristic of butter-consumers in various portions of Great Britain. The reduction of the trouble of open texture in cheese has been shown to be most effectively dealt with by paying due attention to pure milk-supply, pure active starters, and to careful manufacturing and curing. Much advance has been made in our knowledge of the factors controlling the behaviour of " starters," so that it is now possible for factory-managers to ascertain the potency of their starters through the use of certain simple tests. These tests are also of use in detecting non-acid milk, the presence of which is a serious trouble to the cheesemaker. Other possible products manufactured from milk have been the subject of investigation bv the Institute. FRUIT. The progress of the fruit research programme has been very satisfactory largely owing to the ready measure of co-operation which has proceeded among the various bodies undertaking the actual research work. In all the research activities steady advances have been made, though the year's results have not been characterized by anything of a conspicuous nature. The value of the orchard at Appleby for assisting in the research work has been amply demonstrated, and it has produced a large amount of the fundamental data required in connection with the various researches in progress. It has been shown that methods of propagation exert a marked influence upon the root systems of fruit-trees, and that this ultimately will affect to a marked extent the constitution and production of the trees. Manurial trials have continued to show that the greatest response has been shown where nitrogen has been applied. Dressings of phosphates or potash have shown very little result in any of the trials conducted. The efficacy of the sprays now in use as the results of previous investigations is plainly evident in the better control secured over fruit-diseases, exports being almost entirely free of trouble caused through insect or fungus injury arising in the orchard. Among a very wide range of problems attacked in connection with transport and storage, interest centres on trials which have been conducted with various new systems of dunnage designed by the Cambridge Low-temperature Research Station. SOIL SURVEY. During the year the soil survey has been pushed ahead vigorously in two districts. The detailed survey of the Waipa County has been continued, so that most of the intensely farmed parts of the county have now been dealt with. While this work was in progress, sectional surveys have been completed in neighbouring areas, in respect to two definite problems, both associated with the quality of dairy-produce. This resulted in a much closer survey being undertaken of specified farms, where conditions having an apparent bearing upon dairy-produce quality were examined. In view of the possibilities of an extensive system of irrigation being adopted in the Ashburton County, a reconnaissance soil survey of the flat land of this county was undertaken and completed. This will serve to indicate the main soil types which occur in this county, and help to indicate their suitability for the application of water by irrigation. The reconnaissance survey of Taranaki has been completed, while work has been carried out on a special area in Southland. LEATHER AND PELTS. The tanning industry in New Zealand has continued to make very full use of the scientific services provided by the Leather Research Association, and., in consequence, this industry has maintained itself in a satisfactory economic condition. The quality of the output has shown marked improvement, as exemplified by the fact that a small export trade has been established for certain classes of New Zealand manufactured leather. Most of the co-operating firms in the Leather Research Association have increased employment during the past year by 33 per cent. Those participating in pelt research have had the advantage of new knowledge in relation to processing. The influence of new methods has been thoroughly tested out, consequent upon shipments being forwarded to England. Some of the pelts processed by methods adopted in consequence of laboratory researches have found a demand in markets which were previously not available for the New Zealand article. Promising work has been carried out on calf-skins. The progress which has been made in this field of research indicates the value of the steady utilization of scientific methods constantly reacting upon the processes of an industry, and assisting it in the exploration of new uses for its products. The results are discussed with fellmongers of co-operative companies in the works themselves and also at an annual round-table conference at the Head Office. Such conferences have proved particularly helpful in breaking down prejudices and creating a pride in the work.

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