Wellington Philosophical Society. 521 
1. “How New Zealand may continue to grow Wheat and other Cereals,” 
by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. (Transactions, p. 149.) 
Kirk considered the remarks in the paper regarding the sterile nature of the 
Auckland soil required modification. He had seen very fair crops grown in that locality 
with little or no manure. 
Dr. Hector agreed with the author that a good deal of potash was taken out of the 
colony in the grease of wool, and he knew that this potash grease is saved in England, 
and used in the after manufacture of wool. With regard to the Auckland soil, he con- 
sidered it was inferior in some places chiefly owing to the want of drainage or breaking up, 
Soluble silica is the constituent most essential, and therefore a clay soil is, on the whole, 
the best, as it retains manure longer. Altogether he thought Mr. Crawford’s remarks 
were valuable 
Dr. Newman considered that possibly a time would come when it would be difficult 
to procure sufficient food of the ordinary kind, and the wisest plan would be to manufac- 
ture the various constituents mentioned directly into food for consumption. He did not 
see why they could not be as easily manufactured into food themselves as used to assist 
in producing food from other sources. 
Young thought with Mr. Crawford that much could be done with the assistance 
of chemistry in keeping up the quality of the soil. The most economical and best agent 
to employ would be phosphatic guano, which he thought could be procured in large 
quantities from numerous islands. 
Dr. Buller pointed out that, in the neighbourhood of the hot springs, there was 
a quantity of nice, soft mud, sometimes eaten by the natives, which might serve the 
purpose indicated by Dr. Newman 
Mr. Kirk said that the sulphur works at Auckland would supply sulphuric acid, which 
would be most useful for our soils. He stated that nitrogen only formed a very small 
proportion of the dried plant, frequently less than 1 per cent., and rarely so much as 3 per 
cent., and therefore could be more easily supplied. 
2. “ Additions to List of Species, and Notices of rare Occurrences, since 
the publication of ‘The Birds of New Zealand,'" by Walter L. Buller 
C.M.G., Se.D. (Transactions, p. 861.) 
9. * Remarks on the Long-tailed Cuckoo ( Eudynamis taitensis)," b 
Walter L. Buller. (Transactions, p. 853.) 
4. “On the specific Value of Prion banksii, by Walter L. Buller. 
(Transactions, p. 351.) 
5. “Further Notes on the Habits of the Tuatara Lizard," by Walter L. 
Buller. (Transactions, p. 849.) 
Dr. Hector considered Dr. Buller's papers were most interesting, and no doubt some 
new species would yet be added to the birds of New Zealand—instancing a red wattle-bird 
in the western pipe of van he had a With regard to the tuatara, he 
agreed with Dr. Bull itum and S. guntheri—would 
hold good. As Aa their feeding habita, he found that thay would cat almost anything - 
that mov 
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