Olago Institute. 13 



moisture of the soil, and numerous examples were given from different countries of the 

 effects of deforestation in drying up springs and producing desert conditions. The 

 appointment of a thoroughly trained scientific forester in New Zealand to control all 

 existing natural forests and to direct the formation of artificial forests was strongly 

 urged, and it was argued that though afforestation on a more extensive scale than at 

 present would lead to additional temporary expenditure, it was a duty that we owed 

 to our descendants, and that eventually it would yield handsome profit. 



At the close of the address several members spoke instancing cases of deforestation 

 in various parts of Otago, and the following resolution was moved by Mr. J. N. Lawson, 

 and carried unanimously : " That this Institute respectfully urge upon the Government 

 the urgent necessity for a more vigorous prosecution of the work of afforestation through- 

 out the Dominion, and that, notwithstanding its vast importance, the production of 

 limber should not be the sole object of the forestry operations, but climatic consider- 

 ations and the conservation of water should also be dealt with ; and this Institute would 

 also further urge upon the Government the necessity for appointing without delay a 

 scientifically trained Chief Forester to direct and control the Department." 



Second Meeting : 6th June, 1911. 



Mr. A. Bathgate, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members. — Miss Edith Howes, of Gore, author of " The Sun's 

 Babies," was elected an honorary member. Dr. P. D. Cameron, Dr. A. J. 

 Hall, Captain S. G. Sandle, and Messrs. W. D. R. McCurdie, F. A. Simpson, 

 Nelson Jones, F. Oakden, C. H. Marriott, C. H. N. Thomhnson, K. A. Mc- 

 Donald, F. R. Shepherd, W. J. Mitchell, A. Mackie, W. J. Scoullar, W. J. 

 Crawford. G. J. Orchiston. and H. C. Auty were elected members. 



Papers.- — 1. " On the Nomenclature of the Lepidoptera of New Zealand." 

 By G. B. LongstafT, M.A.. M.D.. F.E.S. ; communicated bv Mr. G. W. 

 Howes. F.E.S. 



2. " Notes on the Nomenclature of the New Zealand Geometridae." 

 By L. B. Prout ; communicated by Mi. G. W. Howes, F.E.S. 



3. " New Lepidoptera.'" By L. B. Prout ; communicated by Mr. G. W. 



Howes, F.E.S. 

 t 



4. " Life-history of Argyrophenga antipodum." By G. W. Howes. 

 F.E.S. 



5. " The Food-value of Oysters." By Professor J. Malcolm, M.D. 



The author stated that he had recently been investigating some of the food-products 

 of New Zealand, and particularly oysters. One of the great principles of diatetics was 

 that the food should supply a sufficient amount of combustible matter in the body to 

 supply heat and energy. He referred to the three divisions of foodstuffs — fat, protein, 

 and carbohydrates— and to the quantitative and qualitative ways of looking at food. 

 New Zealand oysters contained from 6 to 12 per cent, of protein, and also a fair pro- 

 portion of fat and carbohydrates, so that they had all the constituents of diet. There 

 was also their value as an appetizer. He instituted a comparison between Stewart 

 Island and American oysters, and also between the nutritive value of oysters and other 

 common foods. A dozen of oysters equalled an ordinary hen's egg. He predicted 

 that oyster-culture, as in France, would yet be a very large industry in New Zealand. 



Professor Boys-Smith spoke at some length on the cooking of oysters, and stated 

 that the less all protein food was cooked the better, provided it was made palatable. 

 Carbohydrates were made more digestible by cooking. Oysters should be eaten as fat- 

 as possible raw. She knew of only one good recipe for cooking oysters. 



