AucMand Institute. 4)71 



Perhaps Mr. Grillies, wlio had got .some, would inform them as to his 

 experience. 



Mr. Gillies said he was convinced that the ammonia was one of the most 

 valuable manures for grass ; it would increase the crop at least one-third, 

 and was excellent as a destroyer of grubs, wire-worms, and slugs. He was 

 sorry to see that the farmers pooh-poohed so much the idea of agricultural 

 chemistry being of any benefit. He had conversed with many of them, and 

 was sorry to hear their opinions on the subject. He observed that Dr. 

 Hector had done something to create an interest in the subject,, by adver- 

 tising that any person who sent a bag of soil to Wellington would get an 

 analysis free. It seemed to him (Mr. Grillies) that every farmer ought to 

 send down a specimen of the soil of his farm and have it analyzed. He was 

 surprised, however, to hear from Dr. Hector, when he was last in Auckland, 

 that he had not got half a dozen specimens of soils from the whole province. 

 The society might get specimens analyzed from every district in the pro- 

 vince, and make out a map of soils, showing what their products might be. 

 By this they would see that in one district wheat might advantageously be 

 grown, in another clover, in another barley, and so on. Two years ago he 

 thought of growing vines at Mount Eden, which he thought would be admi- 

 rably adapted for their growth. He found, however, that they produced too 

 much wood, and did not succeed. 



Dr. Fischer said that the soil upon which he had experimented, with 

 reference to vines, was trachytic scoria, while Mount Eden was basaltic 

 scoria. He (Dr. Eischer) had not yet succeeded very well with his vines. 

 He believed that the Mount Eden soil would be too dry for the vines. 

 Dr. Eischer remarked that to have a map applied to such a purpose as that 

 spoken of by Mr. Grillies, they would require to have the particulars of the 

 climates of the different districts also. 



E,esolved, " That the Secretary be instructed to apply to Dr. Hector for 

 forms respecting the analysis of soils." 



EiFTH Meethstg. 7th September, 1868. 

 E. "Whitaker, President, and subsequently T. B. Grillies, in the chair. 

 The Chairman read the following list of donations which had been made 

 to the society since the last meeting :— 



Specimens of a Maotra, from the alluvium of Kauwaeranga Creek, 

 Thames — Captain Hutton. Model of a river steamer, model of a line-of- 

 battle ship, and leaf impressions from Waikato — T. Eussell, Esq. Four 

 copper coins — John Kirby, Esq. Coal from Mount B,oehfort, Nelson — 

 H. "Wrigg, Esq., C.E. Crystallized quartz, from the York and Devon 

 claims — Mr. Cartwright. 



