700 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 ISTov., 1918. 



States to report to the Advisory Council. The present 

 Committee of the Advisory Council to be the Committee 

 for the New South Wales and the South Australia Wheat 

 Weevil Committee to continue for that State, new Com- 

 mittees being formed in Victoria and Western Australia. 

 Mr. BoEHME seconded the resolution, which was carried unani- 

 mously. 



The investigations recommended by the Special Committee of the 

 Advisory Council were then considered. It was decided that the fol- 

 lowing work should be carried out in each of the States : — 



1. Examination of samples of insect-damaged grain from all 



parts of the Commonwealth, with a view to the determina- 

 tion of the injurious insects present, their comparative 

 prevalence in different localities, and the extent and nature 

 of the damage done. 



2. Observations and experiments on the life-history of the in- 



sects chiefly responsible for dam.age to stored grain and 

 the conditions favorable to their active multiplication as 

 regards temperature, moisture and aeration. This would 

 be work mainly supplementary to investigations, the re- 

 sults of which have been published in England and India; 

 but it is essential that it should be done in view of the 

 differences in Australian conditions. 



3. Estimation of the water-content of wheat in various condi- 



tions, including the estimation of the percentage of mois- 

 ture present in the grain when first harvested in various 

 parts of the Commonwealth. 



4. Recording the changes in the water-content of bulk samples 



during the maturation and dormancy of the grain; co- 

 ordination of these changes with atmospheric conditions. 



5. Experiments on the degree and rate of absorption of water 



in bulk samples of wheat kept at regulated temperatures in 

 atmospheres artificially charged with moisture. These ex- 

 periments would be varied so as to test the hygroscsopic pro- 

 perties of the grain in various stages of maturation. 



It was further decided that experiments on the effect of hermetic- 

 ally sealing wheat and its influence on vitality, be left to the South 

 Australian Committee, together with investigations as to the effect of 

 heat treatment on the vitality of wheat and its keeping and milling pro- 

 perties. 



Dr. Green referred to lime treatment, and also to Mr. Barrett's 

 proposals for the construction of basin silos with tar paved floors. 



Mr. RossELL suggested that the effect of lime be investigated further 

 by the Victorian Committee when formed. 



This was agreed to. 



With regard to tar flooring, Mr. Rossell stated that wheat in con- 

 tact with it acquired a taint which rendered it unfit for milling. 



A proposal that a pamphlet should be published in simple terms 

 on the life histories of weevils and other grain insects and methods of 

 destroying them and preventing infection, and widely distributed to 

 farmers, was carried umanimously. 



After a vote of thanks to the chairman the proceedings terminated. 



