ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
XI. 
Mr. E. C. Tommerup gave an account of the soils and agriculture 
of the Atherton Tableland, which was illustrated by pictures. After 
briefly reviewing the tobacco areas at Mareeba and Dimbulah, he passed 
on to a discussion of the soil problems of the Atherton maize and dairy 
pasture zones. Those red soils which are near neutral in reaction are 
fertile and show no response to any mineral fertiliser. After many years 
of continuous maize cropping they show a small response to some break 
in the maize continuity. The red soils which are acid, p H below 5.5, 
frequently show a response to applications of superphosphate and to 
lime, but not to rock phosphate. If they are very acid, p H less than 5.0, 
they may also respond to potash and magnesium fertiliser. Cowpea is a 
good indicator of potash deficiency; soils lacking potash grow cowpeas 
whose leaves are curved, crinkled and carry necrotic spots. Soil analyses 
indicate that as the p H value falls the amount of exchangeable Ca, K 
and Mg diminish to deficient levels. The phosphate is present in the 
red soils but is unavailable at p H 5.3 and higher acidity levels. It is in 
these acid soils that the White Grub ( LepicUota caudata larvae) does its 
damage to the Paspalum dilatatum pastures, vide J. H. Smith, Queens- 
land Agricultural Journal, October, 1936, and D. 0. Atherton, Queens- 
land Agricultural Journal, November, 1939. In general, the acidity 
of the soils increases as one travels from the 50 inches isohyet at Atherton 
to the 100 inches isohyet at Millaa Millaa, but there are some notable 
exceptions which seem to be most logically explained by the assumption 
that these soils were produced during a past climate which was more 
humid than the present. The more recent volcanic rocks produce 
chernozemic rather than lateritic soils. The lecturer then described some 
experiments on pasture improvement species during which it was found 
that local surviving plants of lucerne ( Medicago saliva) and white clover 
(. Trifolium repens) were very superior types with a high degree of per- 
sistence in comparison with numerous other strains and species of 
legumes. Unfortunately, this line of research has now been almost 
completely suspended. 
Abstract of Proceedings, 30th July, 1945. 
The Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Society was held in the 
Geology Department of the University on Monday, 30th July, at 8 p.m., 
with the President (Prof. H. J. Wilkinson) in the chair. About thirty 
members and friends were present. The minutes of the previous meeting 
were read and confirmed. Mr. I. F. B. Common was elected to Ordinary 
Membership. Mr. F. C. Nommenson and Dr. W. J. Chamberlain were 
nominated for Ordinary Membership, and Mr. H. J. T. Bake for Associate 
Membership. On the recommendation of the Council, Dr. A. J. Turner 
was proposed for Honorary Life Membership, and will come up for 
election at the next Ordinary Meeting. 
Dr. D. A. Herbert exhibited a specimen of a fungus Exobasidium 
azaleae from a plant of Azalea indica cultivated at Southport. This is 
the first Queensland record of the fungus. He also showed specimens 
of a smut, Ustilago hieronymi, from Triodia pungens collected by 
Mr. S. T. Blake near Charters Towers, and from T. Mitchelln collected 
by Mr. Allen at Cunnamulla. 
