538 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



researches of scientific expert's have in innumerable cases enabled 

 agronomists to overcome apparently insuperable difficulties, and 

 industries which for a time have been threatened with extinction 

 have by the aid of science been restored to more than pristine 

 vigor. 



Again, the number of named varieties of fruits, &c., is enormous; 

 their characters and qualities are as varied as their names, although 

 probably two dozens of varieties of apples or pears, or less of other 

 fruits, would comprise all that are really worthy of perpetuation. 

 Each of the best of the varieties possesses from two to a dozen 

 synonyms, and these duplicated names belong also to other 

 varieties, which also have several names, so that it is not possible 

 to arrive at the proper nomenclature. Thus an intending grower 

 may plant a large area with quite a different variety to that Avhich 

 he intended for a particular purpose — such as for export in a fresh 

 condition, or for canning, drying, or otherwise — and the conse- 

 quences to him may be disastrous. 



The greatest credit must be given to the officers in the 

 Departments of Agriculture of New South Wales. Victoria, and 

 Queensland. Dr. N. A. Cobb, Messrs. A. S. OllifF, F. Turner, 

 J. H. Maiden in New South Wales, Messrs. Charles French, 

 D. McAlpine, and G. Neilson in Victoria, Mr. C. W. de Vis in 

 Queensland, and others, have done noble service in their various 

 sections so far as the means and facilities at their disposal would 

 allow ; but it is possible that one thoroughly-equipped organisation 

 would be able to do better Avork than several small agencies could 

 perform, and doubtless a deal of useless duplication might be 

 avoided. My suggestion, then, is that the whole of the colonies 

 should unite to establish a central agronomical station, where 

 every possible kind of fruit, vegetable, cereal, and plant of 

 economic value should be grown for observation and for educational 

 purposes (students being trained in connection therewith). There 

 should be a museum of economic botany, vegetable pathology, 

 economic entomology, &c., attached ; models of the best fruits as 

 they appear under varying circumstances of soils, &c. ; a laboratory 

 for analyses — in fact, the institution should be provided with every- 

 thing in reason that the scientific staff could require in order to 

 enable them to properly carry out their work. 



The staff should comprise a director-general, at least one 

 vegetable pathologist, one economic entomologist, analyst, a 

 practical horticulturist and pomologist, and such minor officers as 

 may be needed. Additionally, there should be honorary con-es- 

 poudents appointed in all parts of the colonies where possible. 

 There are many specialists in the colonies who would be only too 

 willing to act in such a capacity, and their labors would be of the 

 greatest assistance to the proposed institution. 



Whatever expenses might be incurred would be recouped a 

 thousandfold by the introduction or discovery of a remedy for any 



