512 Proceedings. 



At a general session of the Congress held next morning the committee 

 submitted the following report, which Avas adopted by the Congress. The 

 committee were asked to continue their deliberations, reporting as occasion 

 demanded to the Standing Committee of the Institute. 



Report of Committee. 



1. The first essential of the flax problem is to find out whether or not 

 races of Phormium exist which are resistant or immune to yellow-leaf 

 disease. 



2. For the carrying-out of this research it is recommended that a small 

 flax experiment station should be built, and placed in charge of a skilled 

 plant-propagator, with one or more assistants. 



3. The minimum salary to be offered for the position of chief investigator 

 should be £500 per annum, with guarantee of employment for five years. 



4. A levy of 2s. per ton on flax should be collected through the Grading 

 Department, and devoted to payment of salaries, cost of building, equip- 

 ment, and upkeep of the experiment station. 



5. The experiment station should be under the direction of a committee 

 of the Flax-millers' Association. 



Papers read at the Sections. 



A gricultural Section . 



Presidential Address : " Science and Agriculture," by Sir James G. Wilson. 



Abstract. 



After insisting on the dependence of New Zealand on the agriculturist and 

 pastoralist, Sir James Wilson referred to the general deficiency of New Zealand soils, 

 after a few preliminary crops, in phosphates, especially in the North Island. They 

 are equally necessary in dairying. The relative merits of the different forms of applica- 

 tion were briefly discussed.' Fortunately there is apparently sufficient nitrogen in 

 most New Zealand soils, and the deficiency that may arise in time can be met by 

 fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in New Zealand. Meanwhile the natural method of 

 fixation by the growing of leguminous plants should not be neglected. Potash is avail- 

 able in New Zealand in only small quantities, but kainit can now be imported from 

 our ally France. Lime exists in quantity, and in general it will pay to lime our soils 

 where "the cost is reasonable, but the question of liming is one which requires very 

 careful study and experiment by experts. 



The humidity of the New Zealand climate combined with the high temperature 

 gives great assistance to fungoid pests, and the absence of hard frosts in many districts 

 leaves our insect pests almost without an enemy. We have now got to rely on the 

 plant-breeder to find us resistant varieties to help us to cope with our troubles. 

 Judicious stocking with sheep and cattle will help to keep the weeds in our pastures 

 down. Where the weeds have got such a hold that it would be ruinous to try and 

 eradicate them, they will tend to dwindle and gradually come under control by the 

 exhaustion in the soil of the particular ingredients they need, while some will be 

 attacked by natural enemies. 



" Some Important Insect Problems of 1920," by D. Miller. 



Abstract. 

 Although beneficial insects have occasionally done good work, they should be 

 looked upon merely as auxiliaries in the reduction of destructive insects. The insect 

 pests of New Zealand are mostly of European origin : very few native species have 

 become destructive. The address was illustrated by numerous lantern -slides showing 

 the life-history of the injurious species upon which the author was at present working. 

 Among these is the pear-midge, which is causing so much damage in the pear-orchards 

 of the Auckland district; the gall -making insect destroying the blue -gums around 

 Palmerston North and in many other parts of the country ; and the common wood- 

 borer, upon which he had located a natural insect enemy. Other important insects 

 referred to were the cattle-tick, the grass-grub (the life-history of which he had recently 

 worked out), and the flax-grub. 



