376 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [May 3, 1920. 



Blacktown. 



The annual meeting of the members of this branch was held on 23rd March, 

 when the following gentlemen were appointed office-bearers for the ensuing 

 year : — C!?hairman, Mr. Frederick L. Parker ; Vice-chairman, Mr. Charles R. 

 Webb ; Treasurer, Mr. William G. Harper : Hon. Secretary, Mr. Robert H, 

 Lalor. Two new members were elected. 



Messrs. Frederick L. Parker and R. H. Lalor were elected delegates to the 

 Royal Agricultural Society's Conference, and to the Flying Fox Conference. 



Regarding the circular issued by the Kellyville branch in connection with 

 the orchard tax, it was decided to let the matter stand over until further 

 information was available. 



It was decided to apply to the Agricultural Department for lectures on 

 grapes, clearing by explosives, and the horse. 



Cordeaux-Goondarin. 

 The monthl}' meeting of the members of this branch was held on 25th 

 March, when fifteen members were present. After the general business had 

 been disposed of, an address was given by Mr. A. Boot, Secretary of the New 

 South Wales Fruitgrowers' Association, outlining the aims of the Association, 

 and pointing out the benefits to be derived from it. Mr. Boot was subjected 

 to a good deal of questioning. The subject of forming a branch was left for 

 a future meeting. The proposed Flying Fox Conference was also discussed. 



Glenorie. 



A meeting of the members of this branch was held on 28th February, 

 when six new members were nominated. A discussion took place on the 

 honey locust tree for shade and food for pigs — a subject suggested by an 

 article by the Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College in the February 

 " Gazette," and the receipt from the author of seeds of the tree for distribu- 

 tion among members. The discussion provoked a profitable exchange of 



opinions. 



Kellyville. 



A very interesting debate took place at the meeting of this branch held 

 on 10th April, twenty-five members being present. The subject discussed 

 was whether it is more beneficial to work a summer fruit orchard in the fall 

 of the season, or to leave it till the early spring. 



Lidcombe. 

 . A well-attended meeting of this branch was held on 8th March, when Mr. 

 E. N. Ward, Superintendent, Botanic Gardens, Sydney, delivered an 

 interesting lecture on the use of fertilisers in the garden. 



Mr. ^Var(l stated that before the application of artificial manure's the ground should 

 be thoroughly worked, either by trenching or by subsoiling witli the plough, thus 

 creating a better water table. The Ijest manuring of all was the adding of humus 

 to the soil in some form or other, the most popular being thoroughly decomposed 

 farmyard maniu'e — not to be confused with the dry street sweepings of a big city. The 

 next best method of applying humus was through decomposed vegetable matter. He 

 advocated the use of a humus pit in every garden. A further method was the digging 

 or ploughing in of some green crop — the method known as green manuring. 



