Wellington Philosophical Society. 523 



6. "On the Eeciprocity of the Seasons with those of the Northern 

 Hemisphere," by S. Gr. Eawson; communicated by Capt. Edwin, 



ABSTRACT. 



The author said that for eight or ten years past he had observed that the character 

 of the seasons in the North Island corresponded with that of the previous season in 

 England, so that a wet summer in England was followed up by a wet one here, and a 

 fine harvest there was always succeeded by a good one here. This agreement of the 

 seasons with those of England appeared to be so certain that farmers in New Zealand 

 might learn when to sow early and when late wheat, and when to refrain altogether from 

 putting in wheat. The author, having this belief, had foretold an unusually dry and hot 

 summer for New Zealand. 



Mr. Carruthers thought that even in New Zealand the seasons did not agree. 



Dr. Hector said it would be necessary to fix upon the one place for comparison, 

 as seasons were not uniform, a moist season on the East Coast being frequently a 

 dry season on the West Coast. 



Dr. Newman considered that the seasons were affected all over the world by sun- 

 spots. 



6. " On the Occurrence of Gold in the Mackenzie Country, Canterbury," 

 by Alexander McKay, of the Geological Survey Department. ( Transaciions, 

 p. 481.) 



Dr. Hector added some interesting information regarding the occurrence of gold 

 generally in that district, and pointed out that Mr. McKay's observation, that the gold 

 and associated quartz were found only in the last-formed moraines and alluviums, 

 confirmed his theory that the retirement of the glaciers was chiefly due to the erosion 

 of the mountains. 



7. " Some Eemarks on the Plant called Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum 

 asperriwumj," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. 



ABSTRACT. 

 The author mentions that the climate of New Zealand is more favourable to the 

 growth of forage plants than those of Great Britain and Australia. The stimulus of 

 necessity, however, produces better farming in countries which have greater difficulties of 

 soil and climate to contend with than in those where the conditions of growth are more 

 favourable ; and he gives Scotland as an instance of the stimulus of necessity acting to 

 produce a higher class of farming than in its more favoured neighbour England ; so 

 the more severe climate of the South Island, and the necessity therefore of providing 

 winter food for cattle, stimulates to better agriculture than in the North Island, where 

 the chmate is milder. The author, having taken a glance at the fodder plants generally 

 grown, draws attention to the prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperrimum), a perennial 

 herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Anchiisa, or borage plant. This valuable 

 plant was introduced to Europe from the Caucasus of late years, and its pretensions are 

 that it is easy of culture, that it lasts for ever, that it is well relished by stock, which 

 thrive well upon it, that its medicinal effect is good, and that it far surpasses all other 

 forage plants in the quantity of produce. The author then proceeds to quote largely 

 from the Country Gentleman's Magazine of April, 1875, and from a pamphlet by Mr. A. 

 T. Holroyd, an old Wellington settler. From these it appears that this grass has beerj 



