ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. HX. 



ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 



SECTION of AGRICULTURE. 



First Meeting, May 7th, 1917. 



Dr. J. B. Cleland, President of the Society, in the Ohair. 



In reply to representations made, the Under Secretary 

 lor Agriculture wrote that farmers were not inclined to 

 cultivate Barleys extensively, but that the Department 

 was doing all it could to encourage its extended growth. 



The Under Secretary for Agriculture also wrote in reply 

 that the Government had decided to guarantee a first pay- 

 ment of 3/- per bushel for 1917 wheat at country stations, 

 -and a further advance to 4/- per bushel f.o.b. 



Mr. H. W. Potts, Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural 

 College, was elected Chairman of the Section. 



PAPERS READ. 



1. Dr. John Harden read a paper with regard to the 

 lack of potash fertilisers in Australia since the European 

 supplies were cut off. Several likely Australian sources of 

 potash were referred to. Dr. Marden, Mr. A. B. Stephen 

 and the Hon. Sec. were appointed a sub-committee to con- 

 sider the question. 



2. Mr. W. W. Froggatt gave a descriptive and lucid 

 lecturette on the Sheep Fly Pest, which had accounted for 

 the death of millions of sheep during the past year. He 

 traced the pest to the evolution of a long and wrinkled wool 

 type of sheep which harboured the parasite. He advocated 

 poisoned baits as the most efficient means of eradication. 



