purpose of est 
EDITORIAL, 
Editorial. 
————————— PAPER FROM KARRI TREES. 
The Institute has received from one of its members, Mr. 
C. KE. Lane-Poole, Conservator of Forests, Western Australia, infor- 
mation regarding tests on the pulping qualities of young Australian 
eucalypts carried out at the Laboratory of the School of Papermaking, 
Grenoble, France, by M. Mathey, who states that among the species 
of trees introduced on a plantation in Spain there are some eucalypts 
which give excellent results in the manufacture of cellulose. ‘The 
experiments were carried out mainly with Tasmanian bluegum felled 
at the immature age of 25 years or less, while previous investigations 
Were carried out on large mature timber. Further information regard- 
ing these experiments are being obtained. If the reports received are 
confirmed, the cultivation of pure forests of certain species of eucalypts 
for pulping purposes may prove to be practicable commercially, while 
there may already be in existence forests of immature trees which could 
be used commercially for paper-pulp. Results of much interest and 
value have been obtained from experiments which are being carried out 
by Mr. I. H. Boas, Technical School, Perth, Western Australia, on the 
piping qualities of karri trees. The experiments show that the yield 
of pulp is satisfactory, the best results being obtained from trees about 
eight years old. Tt is not improbable that even mature karri can be used 
to make a satisfactory paper, and Mr. Boas reports that this may offer 
& partial solution of the problem of utilizing the enormous quantities of 
waste karri at the saw-mills in Western Australia. 
VITICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
A fund of £1,500 has been raised by vine-growers of Merbein and 
Mildura (Victoria), and Curlwaa (New South Wales), taxing them- 
selves ‘at the rate of Qs. 6d. per ton of dried fruits produced, for the 
) ablishing an experimental station. They are desirous of 
Securing the co-operation of the Institute in carrying out investigations 
Into certain problems, viz. :— 
(1) Control of vine diseases (pathological and entomological) ; 
the investigation and treatment of fungus and insect pests 
affecting the vine; and the determination of the most 
suitable phylloxera resistant stocks for irrigable lands. 
(2) Chemical problems tests to discover’ more effective methods 
of drying grapes, manurial experiments with vines and 
investigational work with a view of controlling the move- 
ment of noxious salts in irrigable soils. 
PRICKLY PEAR PROBLEM. 
_The Federal Government is still anxious to assist in tackling the 
prickly pear problem—one of the most serious that faces Queensland 
and the northern portion of New South Wales. It will be remembered 
that last year a proposal was made for joint action on the part of the 
°mmonwealth and the States of New South Wales and Queensland 
On the basis of a five year agreement. The annual cost of the effort 
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