(PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS). 



SOIL FERTILITY. 



By E. H. Gurney. 



{Delivered before the Royal Society of Queensland, 25th 

 March, 1918). 



The activity of members of the Society during the past 

 year has produced a number of additions to the scientific 

 literature of the State. Eleven papers were accepted by 

 the Society, ten of them being printed during the 3'ear and 

 the eleventh held over till the coming year in order to pre- 

 vent delay in the issue of Volume xxix. 



The Queensland Government has again voted a sum of £50 

 to the Society, thus continuing its assistance towards the 

 publication of original scientific research. When it is 

 remembered that out of a total income of £130 for the yea.T 

 1918, our printing bill was just over £119, it will be seen 

 that we have very great reason to be grateful to the Govern- 

 ment for its assistance. Without the Government's con- 

 tribution we would only be able to print a little more than 

 hali. our present volume, and much original scientific 

 research would either be lost or would have to be printed 

 in other States. 



It is pleasing to observe that the membership of the 

 Society remains about the same in spite of the strenuous 

 time through which we are passing. Of our members on 

 active service or doing war work, all are safe with the 

 exception of Dene B. Fry, Avho was killed in action in France 

 on 9th April, 1917. We have to offer our congratulations 

 to a corresponding member, Major T. W. Edgeworth 

 David, on the award of the D.S.O. 



