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pathologist to work out the whole life history of each fungus. Much 

 is being done in America and France ; very little has been done in 

 New Zealand. The conditions here are different from those in 

 America or Britain, the diseases are different; the remedy obtained 

 elsewhere can only be a guide to us here; but it is part of the work 

 of the scientifically trained man to know what has been done elsewhere 

 before he begins to work, and then to improve the method. 



As I have attempted to show you, the knowledge that we have 

 to-day on which depends a proper system of manuring, and the same 

 could be said of cultivation in general, is the result of the experi- 

 ments of many farmers, agriculturists and scientific men. It 

 has occupied the close attention of men trained in the scientific 

 method, not for a month or two, but for years. That is why the 

 commission on which I had the honour to sit offered the advice to 

 the Trustees of the Cawthron Institute to proceed slowly, and see to 

 it that the Director should be a first-class man, trained to deal with 

 the various chemical aspects of agriculture, with experience gained 

 at one or other of the large Institutes in Britain or America ; then 

 to appoint an equally well-trained plant pathologist to investigate 

 the diseases, to find out their cause and to initiate experiments as to 

 their prevention. 



WORK FOE THE INSTITUTE. 



It will be seen that much of our present day knowledge on 

 manuring is the result of long-continued experiments in soil biology, 

 carried out in the first place by Englishmen. Much remains to be 

 done, and there is a fruitful line of work for the Cawthron Institute. 

 There is plenty of room for research conducted on scientific lines on 

 the matters referred to in Mr. Allport's report to the trustees, which 

 is included in the report of the commission. 



There is need for systematic experiments on the efficiency of 

 different kinds of sprays qn different kinds of trees, both as to 

 strength to be used and the proper time to use them, as well as the 

 effect of the sprays on the health of the trees. No systematic record 

 appears to have been published on such matters as these. Then we 

 ought to have experiments to decide what are the most suitable 

 stocks upon which to propagate the apple trees, and to endeavour to 

 find such a stock and variety as would be immune from different 

 types of disease. The most productive methods of pruning, too, 

 and the most suitable and economic methods of manuring, should be 

 investigated. 



Amongst other matters that ought to receive attention are : 



(1.) A thorough soil survey, the investigation of the 

 chemistry, physics and biology of the soil, and especially of the 

 humus and its effect on plant growth, of which little is as yet known. 



(2.) An extended programme of investigation of the diseases that 

 attack our plants and especially those that are injurious to the fruit 

 tree. 



These are a few of the lines of research, which in the near 

 future should occupy the attention of the Cawthron Institute. 



R, W, STILES & CO., PRINTERS, WAIMEA STREET, NELSON, 



