variety that it would take months even to get a cursory glance at them. The Agricultural Hall alone was a sight which would attract visitors from all parts of the globe, and was a perfect marvel of what could be accomplished in the way of National Exhibitions. The lecturer concluded with a somewhat detailed account of the New Zealand Court, which occupied a space about equal to the lecture-hall in which the meeting was being held, although somewhat narrower, and held a very creditable position in the group of Colonies represented at the Exhibition. He mentioned the objects which appeared to attract most attention, and referred particularly to the exhibition of Feather Furs by Mr. Liardet, a magnificent series of Photographs by Mr. Deveril, Messrs. Burton Bros., and others, and a fine collection of Maori exhibits forwarded by Mr. Richard Woon, R.M., of Wanganui.
On the motion of the President, a cordial vote of thanks was then passed to Dr. Hector for his address.
Fourth Meeting. 30th September, 1876.
C. C. Graham, Vice-president, in the chair.
New Member.—William Hutchison.
The Chairman called attention to the addition of about 400 valuable works of reference to the Society's library, through purchases made for the Council by Dr. Hector. He also announced that the Council had resolved to proceed with the binding of the books, and to issue a printed catalogue.
1. The discussion on Dr. Curl's paper, "On a few of the Grasses and other Herbage Plants that might be advantageously introduced into Cultivation in New Zealand," which was read at the last meeting, was then proceeded with.
Mr. Kirk said that, while fully agreeing with the author's opinion respecting the majority of the grasses mentioned by him, he differed with regard to a few, and thought that Dr. Curl had not sufficiently discriminated between those species of value for general pasture and those adapted for forage or for special purposes. After mentioning several species, he stated that Alfalfa was simply the Spanish name for Lucerne, of which superior varieties were now in cultivation. Seed of one of these, of remarkably quick growth, had been distributed from the Colonial Museum, and had been fit for use within six weeks from the time of sowing. He trusted that Dr. Curl's paper would be the precursor of many similar ones on the quality of grasses subjected to experiment by settlers.
Dr. Hector said that the Alfalfa referred to had been obtained from California. At Salt Lake City, by irrigation, they obtained as many as eight crops of this grass in the season. It was used only as forage.
Mr. Crawford considered that the Doab and Buffalo grasses mentioned by Dr. Curl did not succeed well except in the north of New Zealand, as the southern climate was too cold for them.
2. "On a Colonial Standard Survey," by J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., Surveyor-General of New Zealand. (Transactions, p. 96.)
3. "Speculations on the Physiological Changes obtaining in the English Race when transplanted to New Zealand," by A. K. Newman, M.B. (Transactions, p. 37.)
