their investigations, very little lias been done by them since their last 

 report was presented. 



The minutes of the meetings which have been held will show that a 

 comminiication has been received from Mr. Kirk, of Auckland, in reply 

 to the circular sent to him last year, in which he gives a great deal of 

 valuable information on native as well as on inti'oduced grasses, and 

 which will be most useful to the Committee when giving in their 

 final report. Mr. Kirk has also forwarded a number of specimens of 

 grasses common in the Province of Auckland, some of which it is 

 believed are not to be found in Canterbury. 



Mr. Armstrong has kindly presented to the Committee a fine 

 collection of European and Native Grasses, the latter named and 

 arranged by his son, and presented by him to the Institute, which will 

 be of great service for reference, not only to the Committee, but to the 

 members of the Institute generally. 



With respect to these specimens, your Committee believe that great 

 assistance towards forwarding the object in view would be afforded by 

 rendering them accessible to those who take an interest in the subject, 

 as an examination would enable them to learn the names of the grasses 

 about which information is wanted, and thus one difficulty, namely, 

 that of identifying the grasses with the scientific names, would be 

 removed. 



As the seeding season of grasses is now approaching, a number of 

 circulars requesting specimens with remarks thereon have been sent 

 out to such runholders, farmers, and others, as the Committee think 

 most likely to take a little trouble in the matter, but the failure in 

 acquiring information in this way experienced last year, has taught the 

 Committee to rely more upon themselves than others for the future, 

 a course which they intend to adopt. 



In sending out the former circulars, attention was exclusively directed 

 to the subject of native grasses, but the Committee, in addition, have 

 now forwarded a number of circulars to various agriculturists and others, 

 asking for special information on the subject of imported grasses, and 

 on their experience in their cultivation, and this course is likely to 

 result in information being received that will prove not only of interest 

 but of great value. 



Robert "Wilkin, Chairman. 

 12th October, 1870. 



