1921.] 
New Zealand Institute Science Congress. 
37 
Report of Committee. 
1. The first essential of the flax problem is to find out whether or not 
races of Phormium exist which are resistant or immune to yellow-leaf 
disease. 
2. For the carrying-out of this research it is recommended that a small 
flax experiment station should be built, and placed in charge of a skilled 
plant-propagator, with one or more assistants. 
3. The minimum salary to be offered for the position of chief investi¬ 
gator should be £500 per annum, with guarantee of employment for five 
years. 
4. A levy of 2s. per ton on flax should be collected through the Grading 
Department, and devoted to payment of salaries, cost of building, equip¬ 
ment, and upkeep of the experiment station. 
5. The experiment station should be under the direction of a committee 
of the Flax-millers’ Association. 
Papers read at the Sections. 
AGRICULTURAL SECTION. 
Presidential Address : Science and Agriculture, by Sir James G. Wilson. 
Abstract. 
After insisting on the dependence of New Zealand on the agriculturist and 
pastoralist, Sir James Wilson referred to the general deficiency of New Zealand soils, 
after a few preliminary crops, in phosphates, especially in the North Island. They 
are equally necessary in dairying. The relative merits of the different forms of applica¬ 
tion were briefly discussed. Fortunately there is apparently sufficient nitrogen in 
most New Zealand soils, and the deficiency that may arise in time can be met by 
fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in New Zealand. Meanwhile the natural method of 
fixation by the growing of leguminous plants should not be neglected. Potash is avail¬ 
able in New Zealand in only small quantities, but kainit can now be imported from 
our ally France. Lime exists in quantity, and in general it will pay to lime our soils 
where the cost is reasonable, but the question of liming is one which requires very 
careful study and experiment by experts. 
The humidity of the New Zealand climate combined with the high temperature 
gives great assistance to fungoid pests, and the absence of hard frosts in many districts 
leaves our insect pests almost without an enemy. We have now got to rely on the 
plant-breeder to find us resistant varieties to help us to cope with, our troubles. 
Judicious stocking with sheep and cattle will help to keep the weeds in our pastures 
down. Where the weeds have got such a hold that it would be ruinous to try and 
eradicate them, they will tend to dwindle and gradually come under control by the 
exhaustion in the soil of the particular ingredients they need, while some will be 
attacked by natural enemies. 
.Some Important Insect Problems of 1920, by D. Miller. 
Abstract. 
Although beneficial insects have occasionally done good work, they should be 
looked upon merely as auxiliaries in the reduction of destructive insects. The insect 
pests of New Zealand are mostly of European origin; very few natives species have 
become destructive. The address was illustrated by numerous lantern-slides showing 
the life-history of the injurious species upon which the author was at present working. 
Among these is the pear-midge, which is causing so much damage in the pear-orchards 
•of the Auckland district; the gall-making insect destroying the blue-gums around 
Palmerston North and in many other parts of the country ; and the common wood- 
borer, upon which he had located a natural insect enemy. Other important insects 
referred to were the cattle-tick, the grass-grub (the life-history of which he had recently 
worked out), and the flax-grub. 
Discussion on Fire-blight. 
A lecture on fire-blight was given to the Agriculture and Biology Sections 
jointly by Messrs. A. H. Cockayne and R. Waters, and the subject was further 
