Experiments and Investigations. 285 



5. Rotation. — Importance of rotation in connection with the 

 following points : (a) Preventing" exhaustion of tbe soil. Tests will 

 be made in grean manuring-, e.g. the best crops to use for the purpose. 

 (b) The liest rotation for the various sorts of farms, e.g. a grain farmer 

 needs a diflferent rotation from a cattle farmer. 



6. Manuring Trials. — (a) The best manures to use for the various 

 farm crops; (h) the quantity necessary for different soils; (c) the 

 residual effect of various manures. 



(h) Poultry Section. 



Problems connected with incubation are among the chief occupy- 

 ing attention at the present time. Experiments are in progress in 

 determining the cause (and. if possible, tlie remedy) of chicle " dead 

 in shell." The effects of extra supply of oxygen in the egg-drawer 

 are lieing tested, and individunl records of Ihe incniiatiori results for a 

 large number of hens nre being kept to determine whether " dead in 

 shell " is not either wholly or largely a (|nestion of heieditary weak- 

 ness in the present stock. 



Efforts are being made to determine the sex of chickens at the 

 time of hatching or within twenty-four hours. Eor some years now 

 laying strains of Silver ("ampines. White Wyandottes. Speckled 

 Sussex, and Tjight Sussex aie built up by selection and by testing in 

 single pens. 



(<•) rTiEMisTRY Section. 



The time of the i)resent staff is fully occu})ie(l Avith routine work 

 of analysis of soils and other samples sent in. It is hoped when 

 proper facilities are provided to commence plot experiments and to 

 undertake a systematic study of the various kinds of soil in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Institution. 



(d) Animal Husb.andrt. 



The lectuier hopes soon to commence investigation into tlie cost 

 of production of milk and of pip,"s for bacon. 



(e) Economic Kesearcji. 



(a) The most paying croj)s; the cost of cultivation and the result 

 must be carefully compared. This must run over a period of at least 

 five years in order to have satisfactory records for such crops as 

 lucerne. (h) The degree to which intensive farming can be carried 

 out. This will naturally differ with the different crops, distance from 

 market, etc. The object is simply to determine how much capital 

 invested one acre or morgen can carry before it ceases to be productive. 



(/) Co-operative Experiments. 



Close contact with the farmers of each district in connection with 

 the above points is desirable. Farmers will thus be invited to assist 

 as much as possible in getting definite and reliable results. For this 

 purpose seed, etc., will be distributed to any farmer who is willing to 

 assist. 



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