64 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



demonstrations of national as well as of local importance. 

 All forms of agricultural work are conducted at these 

 farms, including dairying, sheepfarming, fruit growing, 

 and wheat growing. Attached to three of the farms are 

 a number of students who are being instructed in the 

 most up-to-date methods of agriculture. 



The instructional work covers a comprehensive area, all 

 classes of farmers being assisted by advice. Agricultural 

 literature, mostly in the form of quarterly journals, is 

 issued, dealing with the latest investigations made, and 

 instructing farmers as to the most efficient methods of 

 farming. Our farmer may have his soil tested, his seed 

 examined for germination capacity, his plants identified, 

 and diseases of plants or animals investigated and a 

 remedy suggested all these services being free of charge. 



A State endowed Agricultural College with an Experi- 

 mental Farm attached is situated at Lincoln in the main 

 wheat growing area, occupying a fairly central position. 

 The main investigations here are concerned with wheat 

 growing and wool raising. All modern methods of farm- 

 ing are adopted, and close records of all results are now 

 being kept over the whole farm. The area of the farm 

 is some 2,200 acres, and wheat is grown yearly on about 

 200 acres. The results of this for the last few years will 

 be shown in statistical form in subsequent chapters. 



Much research work is done by the Director and his 

 assistants in discovering the relative merits of different 

 varieties of wheat for growth in New Zealand climate 

 and soil, in testing the efficacy of various fertilisers, in 

 considering the best methods for cultivation, and in other 

 kindred matters. The results of this work are placed at 

 the disposal of the farmers throughout the country, and 

 much good has been derived from this, especially in 

 educating farmers to endeavour to realise their full 

 opportunities. At the College in connection with the 

 farm the technicalities of the various subjects connected 



