THE Directorgeneral's PAGE

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 4, 15 October 1941, Page 274

THE Directorgeneral's PAGE

Produce More Grass and Clover Seed

GREAT BRITAIN has asked for increased quantities of grass and clover seeds. In a recent communication from London it was indicated that New Zealand could increase her production of all lines by at least 100 per cent, and of some lines up to 500 per cent, to meet the demands of the British market. British experts are certain that in the coming season in that country there will be a largely increased and sustained demand for all pasture seeds.

The position regarding supplies of these seeds in England is already acute, and if we in New Zealand are to help in this matter it is essential that prompt consideration be given, by seed merchant and farmer alike, to the possibility of greatly-increased production in the immediately forthcoming season. The time available for preparation is short, and Britain must have herbage seeds to regrass the areas which have been put under crop. It remains entirely a matter for the man associated with seed production to determine not

only his attitude, but his actions, regarding this appeal from the Mother Country.

Growing of Medicinal Plants

UNDER direction from the War Cabinet, the Department of Agriculture, has made a contract with the Hastings Borough Council and certain private farmers . for the growing of medicinal plants which are required by the United Kingdom Government. The total area allotted to this scheme is 26 acres. Of this area, 20 acres will - be sown in Digitalis purpurea (foxglove), 2 acres in Datura stramonium (thorn apple), 2 acres in Atropa belladonna (deadly-night-shade), and 2 acres in Hyoscyamus niger (henbane).

The growers will be responsible for the pricking out into the necessary beds and the planting out into the field of the plants, the care and maintenance of the area, and the harvesting and delivery of the material to the drying and docking plants. The drying, packing, and marketing of the material will be undertaken by the Marketing Departnent.

Bacon Order Increased

AN increase in the British order for baconers has been received by the New Zealand Government. The Ministry is now offering to purchase for the third year of the war a total of 11,000 tons of baconers from New Zealand. This quantity is inclusive of the original order of 5,000 tons. There are certain conditions attached to the acceptance of this order, and negotiations are still proceeding. When finality is reached a full public statement will be made for the further information of the industry. In the circumstances, the Marketing Department will continue purchasing for export beyond November 30 for the time being.

Retirement of Mr. C. S. Dalgliesh FOLLOWING 40 years’ service with the Department of Agriculture, Mr. C. S. Dalgliesh, Fields Instructor at Rotorua, retired recently. During this extended period Mr. Dalgliesh has filled numerous positions with credit both to the Department and himself. He was one of the original staff of the Agricultural Instructional Service, and for about 12 years held the position of Fields Instructor on the West Coast

of the South Island, where his excellent work under difficult farming conditions will long stand as a monument to his diligent advocacy of the principles of good farm husbandry. Early in 1929 Mr. Dalgliesh was transferred as. Fields Instructor at Rotorua. He was closely connected with the breaking in of the pumice soils of the Rotorua district, and the whole of the farming community of that territory must feel indebted to him for his clear-sighted guidance in helping to farm what was once considered to be the .“problem child” of New Zealand soils. ' ■ / On his retirement, Mr. Dalgliesh was presented, at a gathering of Departmental officers and officers of kindred Departments at Rotorua, with a chiming clock as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow officers of the Department of Agriculture.

Rabbit Control Subsidy Scheme

THE Minister of Labour has agreed to re-introduce the subsidy scheme for rabbit destruction work which was

in operation last spring and summer. The subsidy on wages is on a liberal basis, that is, £3.10.0 per man per week for a registered unemployed, and £3.0.0 per man per week if not registered but specially enrolled for the purpose. The operation of the scheme will be administered by officers of the Department of Agriculture (Livestock Division) in co-operation with officers of the Employment Division , of the National Service Department. Application for participation in the subsidy scheme should in the first instance be made to the local Inspector of the Livestock Division. The purpose of the scheme is to give every facility for the work of rabbit destruction to be carried on throughout the spring and summer months, following the winter kill, in order that the new season’s crop of rabbits may not have the opportunity of increasing or maintaining the rabbit population of the Dominion. While the high price which rabbit skins reach during the winter months does, for the time being, bring about an increased kill, it has

the tendency to stay further effort, with the result that the breeding season quickly restores the pest’s population. The scarcity of labour because of the war is, of course, likely to accentuate that position, and the introduction of the subsidy scheme whereby all available suitable labour when not required for farm work can be concentrated on rabbit work is designed to prevent that happening. The subsidy scheme will be available to rabbit boards, county councils, committees of farmers, or, where no committees can for good reason be formed, to individual farmers, but it should be quite clear that the essence of its adoption implies the prosecution of an energetic “killer” policy, and this aspect of the scheme will be made of paramount importance. With the introduction of this scheme of liberal assistance, any slackness of effort in the destruction of rabbits, during the next few months will bring the defaulters under the penalty provisions of the Rabbit Nuisance Act. /