Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1879. 321 
Analyses made for Members of the Itoyal Agricultural Society from 
Is/ December, 1878 to 1st December, 1879. 
Guanos 8-i 
Dissolved bones, superphosphates, and compound) 090 
artificial manures ) 
Bone-dust 81 
Nitrate of soda C5 
Sulphate of ammonia 11 
Kaiuito and potash-salts 13 
Soot 3 
Sulphate of magnesia 2 
. Kefuse manures 28 
Feeding-cakes 257 
Feeding-meals 3G 
Vegetable productions 5 
Milks and butter 10 
Waters 52 
Soils 25 
Limestones and other minerals 13 
Soaps, oil, and beer 5 
Examinations for poison 6 
Total .. .. 1018 
XVIII. — Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1879. 
By W. Caerutheks, F.R.S. 
During the past year my attention has been specially, by various 
members of the Society, drawn to the vitality of seeds for per- 
manent pasture. A large number of samples have been care- 
fully analysed and examined with this general result — that the 
samples of grasses in the market are generally free from injurious 
weeds, but that some species appear to be regularly harvested 
before the grain is perfected, the almost empty glumes in these 
cases being, of course, of no value for sowing. 
Several cases of injuries due to the prevalence of ergot have 
been brought under my notice. This parasitic fungus has been 
specially abundant during the past year in pasture-lands, owing, 
no doubt, to the favouring conditions of the weather. This 
parasite has been very injurious to the stock on the property in 
Australia of a member of the Society. I have investigated the 
conditions under which it appeared there, and have supplied 
information as to dealing with the pest that I anticipate will 
lead at least to an alleviation of the injury. 
With the help of my colleague who assists me in inquiries 
relating to animal injuries, I have prepared reports for the 
Government on the best means of coping with the locusts, 
VOL. XVI. — S. S. Y 
