194 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
and stunted in one part, were otherwise in perfect condition, and so 
remained during subsequent examinations. 
The following specific cases, chosen out of a good many more or less 
similar examples, seem of sufficient interest for embodying in this report :— 
(1.) M. 207a.—O riginally greatly diseased, it grew in a badly affected 
area, and the plant was much raised above the ground. Contrary to all 
expectations, this plant had almost recovered by July, 1918. It remained 
at that stage, neither better nor worse, till December, 1918, after which 
month it further improved and commenced to grow in earnest, so that by 
May, 1919, it had recovered and was growing well. 
(2.) M. 155a.—O riginally diseased, it gradually got better until September, 
1918, after which—by December, 1918—it “ had got as bad as possible,” 
according to my notes, and yet by May, 1919, it was noted as having “ many 
healthy green leaves, and has recovered considerably.” 
(3.) M. 249.—“ A very small, diseased plant, 4 ft. 8 in. high ” (Feb., 
1918) ; “ recovering ” (July, 1918) ; “ may have got worse since July ” 
(Sept., 1918) ; “ will soon die ” (Dec., 1918) ; “ recovered somewhat, and 
has now some green leaves 1 ft. long ” (May, 1919). 
(4.) M. 233.—-“ A badly diseased, large, open bush, but with many good 
leaves, 10 ft. 4 in. high” (Feb., 1918); “recovering” (July, 1918); “not 
found ” (Sept:, 1918) ; “ getting very bad ; one of the worst seen to-day ” 
(Dec., 1918) ; “ greatly improved, the vellow-leaf dying out rapidly ” (May, 
1919) . 
(5.) M. 244a.—“ Stunted, nearly died out ” (Feb., 1918) ; “ many 
green leaves,, but much yellow-leaf still ” (July, 1918) ; “ very bad, but 
with a few green leaves, much stunted ” (Dec., 1918) ; “ now growing 
fast ” (May, 1919). 
(6.) M. 243. — This was originally an almost dead bush, with but three 
or four more or less diseased pieces remaining. By degrees two of these 
pieces gradually improved, but there was no appearance of it ever becoming 
good flax ; however, the May, 1919, notes read : “ The whole bush has 
recovered greatly—a remarkable recovery.” 
(7.) L. 79.—“ Diseased, very yellow, most of the leaves bad, 5 ft. high ” 
(Feb., 1918) ; “ still quite an unhealthy bush, but leaves mostly yellow 
above and at apices ” (July, 1918) ; “ much worse than at last examina¬ 
tion ” (Sept., 1918) ; “ nearly died out ” (Dec., 1918) ; “ yellow leaves 
mostly gone, some short but fairish leaves ” (May, 1919). 
6. History of a Small Flax Area from the Time of Cutting up to a 
Period of Fourteen Months. 
In order to study the effect of various fertilizers, a number of adjacent 
plots, 20 square yards each, were marked off, some being manured and 
some not manured for sake of comparison. But such manuring proved 
of little moment, for the area was flooded a few days after the fertilizers 
were applied. However, as each plot was labelled, an excellent oppor¬ 
tunity was afforded for studying the progress of yellow-leaf alter plants 
are cut. 
The number of marked plots was forty. Most of the plants had been 
healthy when cut, but the yellow-leaf was not altogether absent. Owing 
to the amount of water on the ground no examination was made in either 
July or September, 1918. Possibly about four hundred plants occurred 
in the marked plots. 
When examined in December, 1918—nearly ten months after the first 
marking—my notes say that very little yellow-leaf had come in, and that 
the average height was about 4 ft. The fertilizing had had no effect, but 
this, owing to the constant and early flooding, was to be expected. 
