H.—29.

utilization will be solved. Two factors stand out clearly in our grassland farming economy —the first is that full use is not yet being made of top-dressing of grassland with artificial fertilisers and lime where such practices are practicable ; the second is that cattle are not being fully utilized in the improvement of pasture where top-dressing is impracticable because of topography or transport. Animal Research. During the year extensive animal research has been carried out by the Department of Agriculture, particularly in connection with facial ezcema, mastitis, sterility in cows, and bogget-mortality, and many valuable results have been secured. The visit of Dr. 0. S. M. Hopkirk, Officer in Charge of the Wallaceville Animal Research Station, to Europe and America has enabled him to bring back the latest knowledge from the main research organizations in the countries he visited, and this should be of extreme value. On my return to New Zealand I decided that it was essential in order that animal research, particularly from the disease standpoint, should be intensified, that the whole of the Department's facilities for this work should be co-ordinated. Accordingly a new Division has been created, including in it all personnel and facilities available within the Department. Dr. J. F. Filmer has been appointed Acting Director of the Division, and both the Wallaceville Veterinary Laboratory and the Ruakura State Farm have been made special animal research stations. The chemical section has also been incorporated in the Division. The Division has on its staff twelve veterinarians and twenty-nine other technical officers. The staff is still short of a number of specialist officers, particularly in the field of genetics, parasitology, and pathology, but it represents a team of workers under one control which should give great service to the country. In addition, it has the advantage, which is absolutely essential, of assistance from the field staffs of the Live-stock and Fields Division. Animal research, particularly along the line of disease research, must have full and complete liaison with those concerned with live-stock and their management. Therefore the closest contact must be maintained between the field staffs of the Department and the new Division, and special care is being taken to ensure this direct and vital co-ordination. A full programme of work is already under way, and although many of our serious animaldisease problems are similar to those of other countries, where much research has and is being carried out, the conditions surrounding them in New Zealand are in many ways dissimilar, and must be prosecuted here rather than relying on oversea work and experience. Departmental. The annual reports of the various Divisions which accompany this report give a good indication of the ramifications of the Department and the volume of work carried out by its officers. It has been, an exceedingly busy year for the Department, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation to the whole of the staff for the excellent manner in which they have performed their duties, and particularly to thank them for their loyal co-operation during the eight months I was absent in Europe. A. H. Cockayne, Director-General of Agriculture.

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