28 J. B. CLELAND. 
the view of quicker and more final results, accuracy of de- 
tail of experiments to avoid possible flaws, and adequate 
control and check experiments. From time to time 
the results of this work appear in the Agricultural Gazette 
of New South Wales, covering such wide fields as manuring 
and variety trials of cereals and other crops, fungicide 
tests, ploughing experiments, the improvement of pastures, 
the control of flying-foxes, the prevention of blow-fly in 
sheep, prickly-pear eradication, ete. One of the most im- 
portant investigations recently dealt with by the Commit- 
tee was the use of dry copper carbonate for the prevention 
of bunt, instead of the pickling of wheat with a solution of 
copper sulphate, the experiments having been suggested 
and designed by G. P. Darnell Smith and H. Ross. 
Blow-Fly in Sheep—Mr. John Froggatt, under the 
direction of the Government Entomologist (Mr. W. W. 
Froggatt), has been continuing his investigations at Moree 
into the best baits and traps for attracting and catching 
the blow-flies, the effect of the heavy seeding of an exten- 
sive area with the hymenopteron parasite (Nasoma brevi- 
‘cornis) of the pupe of these flies, and the results of sys- 
tematic poisoning of careases for the purpose of destroying 
the blow-flies. In wishing them every success in their in- 
vestigations, it should be borne in mind that the control 
of this pest will probably always be a matter of consider- 
able expense, untiring energy, and meticulous care; that it 
is unreasonable to expect the discovery by anyone of an 
easy and rapid means of eradication; and that they will 
have performed a remarkably useful piece of work when, 
at the conclusion of their experiments, they have co-ordin- 
ated and perfected a scheme to utilise to the fullest advan- 
tage the information at their disposal, and backed this by 
an Act of Parliament to enforce its essentials. 
Prickly-Pear.—The seriousness of the prickly-pear prob- 
lem in Queensland and New South Wales is hardly realised 
