ABSTRACT OP PROCEEDINGS. xli. 



by poultry, although for dairy stock there would probably 

 have to be an admixture of molasses. 



Monthly Meeting, 8th November, 1920. 



Sir Joseph Oarruthers in the Ohair. 



Mr. W. S. Campbell delivered a lecture on the Origin of 

 Wheat. One of the leading features of the lecture was 

 the reference to the remarkable knowledge possessed by 

 the Greeks and Romans concerning the selection of definite 

 varieties for particular soils and climates. Special atten- 

 tion was paid as far back as 370 B.C. to the testing of the 

 strength of wheats. In Pliny's time, 1850 years ago, the 

 absorption test for the strength of flour was in use. Careful 

 attention was also paid to keeping the varieties pure, even 

 more so than at present. Hybridising wheat was first 

 carried out in 1795-96, by Knight in England, Mr. Camp- 

 bell showed several pot-grown specimens of Emmer, 

 Macaroni, Federation, Marquis, and other wheats. He 

 referred to the possibility and scope of crossing wild wheat 

 with a native grass like Mitchell grass. 



Monthly Meeting, 12th December, 1920. 



Sir Joseph Oarruthers in the Chair. 



Mr. A. E. Stephen quoted results obtained by Mr. E. 

 Breakwell in co-operation with the Chilian Nitrate Com- 

 mittee, on the fertilising of grasses with complete manure 

 and with superphosphate and sulphate of potash, excluding 

 nitrate of soda. In all cases, except one, a considerable 

 increase in yield was obtained with the complete manure, 

 sometimes over 100 per cent. The native grasses, except 

 Andropogon sp. responded particulaily well. 



