Agriculture Committee Research Articles

The Work of the Permanent Agricultural Committee of the International Labour Office

The Work of the Permanent Agricultural Committee of the International Labour Office

Local Administration and Professional Knowledge

UNDER the title “Can Communities be Planned?", Political and Economic Planning has issued a broadsheet carring No. 296) which discusses from a different angle the question of local democracy which had already been the subject of some earlier broadsheets. Following its studies of the local devolution of responsibility in housing and education, P E P in Broadsheet No. 294 on ”Agricultural Executives", reviewed the interesting experiment in the blending of local knowledge and experience with the central control of an industry which is also a way of life that the county agricultural executive committees represent. These committees are almost entirely independent of the county councils, and the PEP survey suggests that in most areas their standing in their own areas is as high, if not higher, than that of elected councils, and that they have inherited the goodwill of their predecessors, the war committees.

Must We Have Food Surpluses?: a Report of a Discussion in the National Planning Association Agricultural Committee on National Policy

Journal Article Must We Have Food Surpluses?: a Report of a Discussion in the National Planning Association Agricultural Committee on National Policy Get access Must We Have Food Surpluses?: a Report of a Discussion in the National Planning Association Agricultural Committee on National Policy. Washington, D.C., N.P.A., 1949. viii + 47 pp. (Planning Pamphlets, No. 66.) 5o cents. C. C. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Affairs, Volume 25, Issue 3, July 1949, Page 398, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/25.3.398b Published: 01 July 1949

Land Forms and Land Use East of Monterey Bay

FTv ERRAIN on the eastern shore of Monterey Bay presents ex_cellent opportunity for correlation of land forms with types of land use. Field investigation of land forms and their probable means of origin was made by the writer during the years 1938 to 1941, and again in early 1947. Reconnaissance surveys of distribution of crops and general land use were made at the same time. Statistics of crop production compiled by the county agricultural commissioners of the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey also have been of value. Information thus

Land Reclamation

THIS book gives an excellent account of problems facing the officers of the war agricultural executive committees in their task of increasing food production during the War. It was essential national policy that as much food as possible should be grown at home, and that so far as possible every acre of potentially good land should be cultivated. But several decades of agricultural depression had left their mark in thousands of acres of land being abandoned or being so badly farmed that in 1939 they made no worthwhile contribution to the national larder. Much of this land was potentially fertile ; it was merely costly and difficult to keep in good heart and in many areas it had broken most of the farmers who were trying to get a living off it. Land Reclamation By P. J. O. Trist. Pp. 178 + 15 plates. (London: Faber and Faber, Ltd., 1948.) 15s. net.

Manuring of Rice in Relation to Maintenance of Soil Fertility and Increased Production

According to the "Famine Enquiry Commission Report" recently published by the Government of India, the self sufficiency in cereals at à satisfactory level, should be the cardinal aim of Food and Agricultural Policy of our Government to solve the acute food shortage in the country. As envisaged by Dr. Burns, formerly Agricultural Commissioner with the Government of India, a 30% increase in production of cereals is urgent and there is no reason why this could not be achieved as a result of the "Grow More Food" Campaign launched by the Provincial and Central Governments on an intensive and extensive scale. Taking rice, we produce in the Province an average of only 5 million tons of rice from 10 million acres under paddy both irrigated and dry; and this is undoubtedly the most depressing part about our agriculture. The low production is mainly due to lack of water and manure. It is the unanimous opinion of the Agricultural experts, that given ample water and manure, the rice yield can be forced up very much higher. The average yield of wet paddy lands (8 million acres) in the Province is about 1,400 lbs. per acre. The population of Madras Province is approximately 50 millions and working at the rate of 16 oz. per head, the total quantity of rice required to feed the whole population is about 8 million tons of cleaned rice per annum. In other words, we have to increase our production of the present 5 million to 8 million tons.

A Study of Coyote Relationships on Cattle Range

Experimental Range with the idea of making regular monthly collections of those subsequently deposited. Adherence to this program was prevented by changes and reductions in available personnel; the collections were irregular and often of uncertain date. All scats coll ed were found on roads or trails, which were known to be travel-ways of coyotes. Many of them were associated with racks of coyotes, or were collected at the places, along ridges and their saddles, where they were accustomed to linger leaving droppings nd scent. Other seats were tentatively identified as those of coyote on the basis of size and general appearance, and the fact that they were on regularly used travel-ways. Other carnivores inhabiting the area, were the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), bobcat (Lynx rufus) and badger (Taxidea taxus), and their seats may have been included occasionally. In all, 1,173 scats tentatively identified as those of coyote were collected, with the following numbers in different months. In 1939: May, 1, August, 5, September, 23, October, 299, November, 237, December, 20; in 1940: January, 164, February, 26, March, 22, April, 3, May, 94, June, 32, July, 1, August, 3, September, 79, October, 26, November, 53, December, 1; in 1941: January, 20, and May, 64. In all there were 2,250 identifications of probable food items: 1,924 of vertebrate prey, 30 of large domestic mammals (as carrion in most or all instances), 254 of arthropods, 1 snail, and 42 of plant material. These items, classified according to several major groupings, are listed below in order of frequency of occurrence. MAMMALS: 414 ground squirrels (Citellus beecheyi); 377 cottontails (Syl1 The writer is indebted to Kenneth A. Wagnon for field observations on coyotecattle relationships at the time when coyotes were present in abundance on the area. The Madera County Agricultural Commissioner furnished data on numbers of coyote taken by state and Federal trappers. Scats were collected mainly by Frank Ahern, Oscar Hornback, Richard Loughery, Fenimore Ramley, and the writer, and were analyzed by Howard Twining, Daniel F. Tillotson, and John E. Chattin.

WIREWORMS AND THE SUGAR‐BEET CROP: FIELD TRIALS AND OBSERVATIONS

Observations on wireworms in the sugar‐beet crop during 1937–40 indicated the importance of alternative food, such as buried turf, weeds, excess seedlings and interdrilled wheat in determining the degree of injury to the crop.In 1938, out of thirty‐six recorded fields growing sugar beet after ploughed‐up grass only one suffered severe wireworm damage. Six of these fields were selected for resowing with sugar beet in 1939, and all suffered moderate or severe attacks. Several other fields in their first year from grass showed only slight damage. These observations were supported by an analysis of the Norfolk War Agricultural Committee crop records for 1940.Seven trials were carried out in 1939 to determine the effect of increasing the seed rate from normal (about 14–16 lb./acre) to 17–25 lb., and of interdrilling with wheat. In three trials, increasing the seed rate gave significantly higher plant populations before singling. It gave significant increases after singling in one out of two trials. However, in the one trial harvested the increase in ‘washed beet’ was only 7.6% and ‘total sugar’ 15%. Interdrilling with wheat at 40–70 lb./acre gave significant increases in the plant population before singling in three out of five trials, and after singling in three out of four trials. Increased plant populations both before and after singling were obtained in two other trials with alternating treatments. Increased seed rate and interdrilled wheat together gave greatly improved plant populations before singling in each of two trials and after singling in the one trial where such an observation was possible.

Testimony presented by clifford G. McIntyre of perham, maine, before house agricultural committee at durham, n. h., October 13, 1947

Testimony presented by clifford G. McIntyre of perham, maine, before house agricultural committee at durham, n. h., October 13, 1947

Diseases of Cereals

CORRECT diagnosis is of prime importance for the successful prevention and control of plant disease, and considerable confusion is frequently caused by the loose use of terms such as 'blight', 'rust' or 'mildew'. The Ministry of Agriculture has accordingly published Bulletin No. 129, compiled by W. C. Moore, entitled "Cereal Diseases" (London: H.M. Stationery Office. 1s. net), which should prove of great value to all interested in the cultivation of these crops, whether it be the farmer, scientific adviser or student of agriculture. It provides simple, accurate and, in a number of cases, illustrated descriptions of the diseases of cereals that occur in Great Britain, together with the measures that should be taken to prevent or control their incidence. The diseases causing the most damage are yellow rust, bunt of wheat, leaf spot of oats, leaf stripe of barley, take-all, eyespot, mildew and manganese deficiency disease; but even these vary in intensity from season to season and in some years others are of equal importance. A farmer experiencing trouble with cereal crops is urged to seek advice from his County War Agricultural Committee, and a list of provincial advisory centres and advisory mycologists is appended from whom help may be obtained.

British Grassland Society

AT the Fourth International Grassland Congress held in Great Britain in 1937, a group of grassland specialists met to consider the advisability of forming a society in the United Kingdom to promote the study of grassland husbandry. The outbreak of war prevented further progress with the scheme, but in November 1944 a group interested in grassland research met to discuss the foundation of a British Grassland Society, the activities of which would be field tours, discussions and the publication of a journal. The Society was formed early in 1945 and the first meeting was held at Stratford-on-Avon during June 20–22. About one hundred and fifty members attended. At the opening general meeting the following committee and officers were elected for 1945: President, Sir R. George Stapledon; Vice-President, Dr. Wm. Davies; Committee, J. H. Faulder, H. J. Gill, W. D. Hay, F. R. Horne, Prof. T. J. Jenkin, M. G. Jones, Prof. S. J. Watson; Secretary, Dr. R. O. Whyte; Treasurer, P. A. Linehan; Editor, Dr. H. I. Moore. The office of the Secretary is at the Agricultural Research Building, Aberystwyth. It was. agreed at this meeting that membership should be confined in the meantime to scientific and technical officers of Ministries, research institutes war agricultural executive committees and similar bodies. Specialists in countries other than Great Britain can become members.

The Senate Judiciary Committee: Qualifications of Members

In many of our modern industries, aptitude tests are given to new employees in order to determine the type of position for which each worker is best fitted. Unfortunately, in legislative bodies committee assignments are dependent upon several factors, only one of which is specialized ability. To serve the public best, however, no one can truthfully deny that individual competence ought to be the basic reason for placing a legislator on the committee which can make the most advantageous use of his particular training and experience. Putting an international lawyer on an agriculture and forestry committee would be a sheer waste of talent. With these thoughts in mind, the Senate Judiciary Committee has been studied for the purpose of determining the qualifications of the 219 men who have been members of this body since it was established in 1816.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION : ANNUAL CONFERENCE

IT was quite evident from the attendance at the Midland Agricultural College during January 4–6 that the Council's decision to resume the normal conferences was a popular one, for some seventy-five members arrived to take part in the discussions. Two years ago it had been decided to suspend most of the activities of the Association because of difficulties consequent upon numerous members being drafted from their usual activities into the service of war agricultural executive committees, to the disorganization of agricultural colleges and university departments due to changes in policy thrust upon them in the early days of the War, transport difficulties and so on. But as time went on, it became obvious that the multitudinous problems now besetting the agricultural scientist and educationist would have to be discussed by as many people as possible, and the recent conference was the outcome of the demand.

Methods of Clearing Derelict Land

THE clearing and reclamation of derelict land has become an urgent problem on many farms in Britain to-day. In view of the recent developments in the mechanization of British agriculture, the new edition of Bulletin No. 101, “Hedge and Tree-Stump Clearing”, by T. Swarbrick, recently published by the Ministry of Agriculture (price 6d), should prove of great help to farmers faced with probably unfamiliar operations. The methods recommended fall into four groups: hand methods, the use of power, chemical agents and explosives. The means selected depends upon a variety of circumstances. Much can be done with timber jacks and monkey winches, especially when isolated trees are the chief problem. If hedges also need removing and no tractor is available, the use of a monkey winch in conjunction with explosives is suggested, for horses can then pull out the small stuff. As regards power methods, the track-laying type of tractor is undoubtedly most suitable for land clearing, but it is essential that full use be made of the dead weight of the tractor, its drawbar pull and the leverage exerted by making a high hitch on the tree and a low hitch on the tractor. Other forms of power such as steam tackle, gyro-tillers and bulldozers can also do most valuable work, if the size of the job justifies the use of expensive equipment. Explosives, particularly gelignite, offer a simple means of removing tree stumps and hedges ; full details are given in the bulletin as to how they should be employed. Farmers requiring further information or help are recommended to get in touch with the machinery sections of the county war agricultural committees, who are in possession of the necessary tractors and employ full-time machinery officers to organize the equipment.

Agriculture To-day and To-morrow

THE Royal Society of Arts has arranged a special series of ten lectures on “Agriculture Today and Tomorrow”, beginning on November 11. In organizing these lectures, the Society is carrying on what was for nearly a century one of the most important branches of its activities. At the time of the Society's foundation-1754-the methods of agriculture were practically those of the Middle Ages. Until the inauguration of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1838, the Society's Committee of Agriculture under Arthur Young was the most important body in Great Britain concerned with the welfare of agriculture. Under its auspices many improvements were made in agricultural practices. The Society also opened to the public its “Repository of Inventions”, which contained an excellent collection of models of agricultural implements, and in 1761 it held an exhibition of agricultural machines. Although the present lectures are intended mainly for those actively engaged in agriculture, it is emphasized that the series will be of interest to laymen. A syllabus of the series can be obtained from the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, John Adam Street, Adelphi, London, W. C. 2.

The Principles of Field Drainage

BEFORE the outbreak of war the National Farmers' Union estimated that a quarter of the farm land of England and Wales could be improved by drainage. Since then a series of measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture enables drainage work, approved by county war agricultural executive committees, to receive a 50 percent Government grant. A start has been made on this urgent work but much still remains to be done, and a book on the principles of field drainage is to be welcomed at this time. The Principles of Field Drainage By H. H. Nicholson. Pp. xi + 165 + 12 plates. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1942.) 12s. 6d. net.

Why California Agricultural Commissioners Are State Plant Quarantine Officers1

Why California Agricultural Commissioners Are State Plant Quarantine Officers1

Sons of the Soil

INDIA and her politicians, not without good reason, have been much in the news during recent months, but, in the long view, it is her peoples, comprising a vast and varied agricultural population, who will dominate the historic scene. For this reason the attractive and well-illustrated little volume, edited by Dr. Burns, agricultural commissioner with the Government of India, should be carefully read at the present time. The Indian cultivator “is India outside of the towns”. His agricultural difficulties are great and of long standing; they are as varied as the territory in which they arise. The object of the sketches in the volume under review is, among other things, to get rid of the idea of the Indian cultivator as a person or type, and to show something of the variety of individuals and classes who cultivate the soil of this immense country.

Chemistry's Contribution to the Cottonseed Industry

WHEN Harry D. Wilson, Louisiana's venerable Commissioner of Agriculture, was a boy he derived great personal pleasure from the fact that his father's cotton gin was located on a river's bank. This meant that he did not have to spend his Saturdays, as did many boys in the fall, hauling cottonseed to a safe distance from the gin and burning it. He could simply dump the lot into the river and let the current carry it away. Today cottonseed bring to Commissioner Wilson's great host of farmer friends more than $100,000,000 each year. The story of this transformation from waste product to a $200,000,000 industry is principally a story of chemistry. The first problems of utilizing cottonseed were mechanical rather than chemical. During the first half of the 19th century the removal of linters and the separation of the hulls from the kernels engaged the attention of experimenters. It was generally believed that the oil ...

Carnegie United Kingdom Trust

THE twenty–seventh annual report of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (Dunfermline: The Trust) covers the year 1940 and emphasizes the aim of its war–time policy to continue so far as possible to foster pioneer experimental work which may be expected to have an enduring effect on the social structure of the country. It also aims at safeguarding its own past work where this has proved to be of value by assisting earlier beneficiaries to maintain their services and, if necessary, extend them to meet special needs arising from the War. The year 1940 was the last year of a quinquennium, and the report briefly reviews the allocations made during that period. The largest single allocation was one of a £150,000 for land settlement schemes to be undertaken in England and Wales by the Land Settlement Association. The policy of this Association had to be completely re–orientated at the outbreak of war. At September 30, 1940, there were 1,054 holders on full–time estates, and the land has been brought under cultivation for production of corn, potatoes and other crops under schemes agreed with the county war agricultural committees. Individual grants to the National Council of Social Service have been rounded into a single block grant of £5,000 for 1940 to cover all those of the Council's activities in which the Trust is interested.