PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 7 



but it is hoped that this will be somewhat remedied by this 

 exhibition. The same wood varies so much in appearance in 

 different trees or different parts of the tree especially if of an 

 ornamental nature, and also according to the direction in which 

 it is cut, that it is often very difficult to identify even in our 

 more familiar woods, but probably the qualities remain more 

 or less constant. Besides this there are sometimes several 

 distinct species which go under the same name, such as satin- 

 wood and mahogany, of which last there were some beautitul 

 specimens from Africa. Attempts have been made to grow 

 camphor in various British dependencies, with success in some 

 cases, especially in Trinidad. Cotton also and sugar-cane cul- 

 tivation are receiving special attention, and good varieties are 

 being raised in Government establishments for distribution. 

 Jerusalem Artichoke tubers are recommended as a source of 

 sugar in this country, and it has been also suggested that alcohol, 

 at least for other purposes than drinking, might be obtained from 

 various plants which occur in abundance, such as couch and 

 other grasses, bracken, &c., as well as the cabbage stalks which 

 are now thrown away in great masses. Experiments with 

 wheat weevils (Calandra) tenet to shew that air-tight storage is 

 successful in destroying this pest, but the practical difficulties 

 of making a large granary really air-tight are great. I have 

 had a little experience during the war of the extremely 

 destructive powers of these insects, which increase very fast and 

 in the autumn wander in search of places in which to hibernate, 

 and turn up in all sorts of unexpected positions, at considerable 

 distances from their food. It is said that the rate of increase 

 may be as high as 700-fold in 16 weeks, which accounts for 

 their ravages. I believe that they are found in all parts of the 

 world wherever wheat is stored. This " air-tight storage " is 

 probably what the makers of underground covered granaries 

 aimed at, and corn has been found in some of the dene holes 

 which have been discovered at Portland and which are well 

 illustrated in " Damon's geology." The most recent experiments 

 on the electrification of seeds do not shew any special effect of 

 this process in most cases. A machine called the Crescograph 



