Wellington Philosophical Society. 523 
5. “On the Reciprocity of the Seasons with those of the Northern 
Hemisphere,” by S. G. Rawson; communicated by Capt. Edwin. 
ABSTRACT. 
The author said that for eight or ten years past he had observed that the character 
of the seasons in the North Island corresponded with that of the previous season in 
England, so that a wet summer in England was followed up by a wet one here, anda 
fine harvest there was always succeeded by a good one here. This agreement of the 
seasons with those of England appeared to be so certain that farmers in New Zealand 
might learn when to sow early and when late wheat, and when to refrain altogether from 
putting in wheat. The author, having this belief, had foretold an unusually dry and hot 
summer for New Zealand. 
Mr. Carruthers thought that even in New Zealand the seasons did not agree. 
Hector said it would be necessary to fix upon the one place for comparison, 
as seasons were not uniform, a moist season on the East Coast being frequently a 
dry season on the West Coast. 
Dr. Newman considered that the seasons were affected all over the dd by sun- 
spots. 
6. **On the Occurrence of Gold in the Mackenzie Country, Canterbury,” 
by Alexander McKay, of the Geological Survey Department. (Transactions, 
p. 481.) 
Dr. Hector added some interesting information regarding the occurrence of gold 
generally in that district, and pointed out that Mr. McKay’s observation, that the gold 
and associated quartz were found only in the last-formed moraines and alluviums, 
confirmed = reed that the retirement of the glaciers was chiefly due to the erosion 
of the moun 
7. '* Some Remarks on the Plant called Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum 
asperrimum )," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.8. 
ABSTRACT. 
The author mentions that the climate of New Zealand is more favourable to the 
growth of forage plants than those of Great Britain and Australia. The stimulus of 
necessity, however, produces better farming in countries which have greater difficulties of 
soil and climate to contend with than in those where the conditions of growth are more 
favourable; and he gives Scotland as an instance of the stimulus of necessity acting to 
produce a higher class of farming than in its more favoured neighbour England; so 
ihe more severe climate of the South Island, and the necessity therefore of providing 
winter food for cattle, stimulates to better agrieulture than in the North Island, where 
the climate is milder. The author, having taken a glance at the fodder plants generally 
grown, draws attention to the prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperrimum), a perennial 
herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Anchusa, or borage plant. This valuable 
plant was introduced to Europe from the Caucasus of late years, and its pretensions are 
that it is easy of culture, that it lasts for ever, that it is well relished by stock, which 
thrive well upon it, that its medicinal effect is good, and that it far surpasses all other . 
forage plants in the quantity of produce. The author then' proceeds to quote largely 
from the Country Gentleman's Magazine of April, 1875, and from a pamphlet by Mr. A. 
T. Holroyd, an old Wellington settler. From these it appears that this grass has been 
