428 Proceedings. 
Mr. J. T. Thomson and the Hon. Mr. Randall Johnson complimented Dr. Kemp on 
his paper, which contained many suggestions which it was most desirable should be 
adopted 
2. “On Wind-formed Lakes," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. (Transactions, 
p. 415.) 
Mr. G. M. Williams said he had noticed small lakes on the West Coast formed, no 
doubt, in a way. 
Mr. Maxwell had seen small pools of this kind, but hardly to be called lakes. He 
iud uds the Wairarapa Lake had been formed in this way. 
8. “ On Grasses and Fodder Plants," by S. M. Curl, M.D.  (Transac- 
tions, p. 882.) 
The Hon. Mr. Randall Johnson pointed out the value of such a paper as this. He 
did not think farmers, generally speaking, could carry out such experiments; it should 
more properly be done by Schools of Agriculture, which he hoped soon to see established 
might instance one plant, the prickly comfrey, that had been highly recommended as 
likely to do well in this country, but which had been rejected. It did not suit the climate 
or soil—two things of the greatest importance. 
Mr. Kirk stated that the most important point mentioned by the author, the neces- 
sity of a mixture of several grasses in order to form d pasture, had been stated in 
early volumes of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. He had felt somewhat 
disappointed in not finding any new matter brought forward in that portion of ihe paper 
which had been read. The general statements, with regard to the utter want of attention 
paid to grass culture, -o qualification, as considerable improvement has taken place 
in New Zealand during the last few years. He had seen excellent grass paddocks in the 
district in which the pde resided, and knew that a large quantity of seed of the best 
natural and artificial grasses was imported into the Rangitikei district annually. 
He fully agreed with the author as to the desirability of encouraging the growth of 
some of the native grasses, several of which were of proved value when mixed with those 
arily cultivated, as might be seen in several localities near Wellington, and in other 
parts of the colony. 
One or two incidental matters mentioned by Dr. Curl involved issues of considerable 
interest, but he would only notice one of these. The author stated that plants were 
capable of being acclimatized, or according to the popular meaning of the term, of be- 
coming so modified by cultivation as to be enabled to endure a climate very different from 
that for which they were originally adapted by nature. Now there was not the slightest 
evidence in support of this statement. It would be correct to say that in many cases the 
proper mode of cultivation had not been discovered until after many failures, but that 
was a very different matter from such a gradual alteration in the constitution of a plant as 
would enable it to withstand the effects of a climate for which it was not naturally suited. 
Sixrg Meerine. 27th September, 1879. 
A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. 
New Menmber.-—J. Park. : 
1. * Remarks on Forest Planting and Conservation, with reference to 
particular Localities in the Wellington District,” by G. W. Williams, 
