-528 Proceedings. 
3. “A System of Weights and Mansurcas: by J. Carruthers, M. Inst. 
C.E. (Transactions, p. 155.) 
|. The author proposed to change the radix of counting from 10 to 16, and to adopt 
the latter number as the radix for all weights and measures. 
` Dr. Newman did not altogether object to the decimal system; it was most useful in 
some cases. He considered 12 a better number tha 
It was resolved that the diseussion of this paper should be postponed in order that 
members might have an opportunity of studying it. 
4. “ Further Remarks upon Prickly Comfrey, with Description of a 
mode of storing it and other Forage Plants,” by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. 
i $ ABSTRACT. 
In continuation of his former paper on Symphytum asperrimum,* the author quotes 
largely from an article in the ** Gentleman's Magazine" for March, 1877. From this it 
appears that the prickly comfrey contains an unusually large percentage of nitrogen, 
and i is the earliest spring crop on the farm. When green food becomes abundant the 
prickly comfrey should be regularly cut and stored in tanks or pits after the Algerian 
custom, for use during droughts or winter. The successful experiments of several French 
gentlemen are recorded. The pits are of stone or brick, in one case being 36 feet long 
by 6 feet in breadth and width (but the deeper the pit the better is the forage owing to 
the pressure) and a pit of that size will hold 40 tons of green maize mixed with about 
one-fifth of its weight of rye-straw chaff, The fodder is trodden down in the pit, and, 
after the top layer is sprinkled with salt, it is covered with straw and planks weighted 
down. It is necessary to examine the pits every day at first or the settling of the fodder 
may cause cracks in the straw roof and admit the air. One gentleman builds his pits on - 
the slope of a hill to facilitate the escape of moisture. Another has found the sour keep 
excellent food for oxen for five years past. In England too much salt was often 
employed, which retarded fermentation. Opinions differ as to the degree of ripeness the 
crop should be allowed to attain before being cut, but the leaves and flowers are never 
allowed to become so dry as to drop off during transport. Crops cut in wet weather in 
1876 and stored after being quickly eut up were found quite equal to that put up in dry 
weather. It requires to remain in the pit at least six weeks before being consumed, and 
some caution is necessary in feeding with it, as the presence of lactic acid in excess may 
cause diarrhea. The author says that soils generally in New Zealand require phosphate 
of lime, and quotes an English authority, who advised, with regard to an Auckland soil, 
the use of half-inch bones to supply oes and the ploughing in of some leguminous 
ees ted supply nitrogen. The author concludes by saying that land for pasture should 
down rich, as few crops ipm em off beforehand as possible, giving an 
-— of successful practice in Northumberland, and he thinks that the growth of 
good forage plants will help towards this, because from their consumption manure would 
be quum. 
* On the Improvement of Wellington Harbour in providing addi- 
Td Wharf Accommodation," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. . 
4 
ee 
ABSTRACT. 
The author says the chief wind against which shelter is required is the wind varying 
i : Deck from X. to WN 3 commonly called the north-west wind. Inthe original reclamation 
= * Ante, p. 523. 
