5

C—3d

to the investigation of the parasitic diseases of fruit-trees, forest-trees, and ordinary farm crops, under the direction of the Chief Conservator. It is imperative that this gentleman"should be a good microscopist and a thoroughly-trained observer, possessing at least a good general knowledge of parasitic fungi and insects, as well as of the laws of vegetable and animal life. Such a position might be looked upon as affording encouragement to students of the New Zealand University to direct their attention to the practical application of botany and zoology, to the arts of the cultivator; and, other things being equal, amongst competing applicants, preference should be given to a University student who has taken honours in botany and zoology The salary for the first year need not be high, but a special agreement should be made for its being increased to a fair amount within three years. Valuable assistance might be rendered to the fruit industry in another direction, and at a small expense. The various fruitgrowers' and gardeners' societies comprise mauy individuals of great ability in their profession, and possessing the power of stating the results of their practice and experience in a readable manner. I feel convinced it would be rendering good service to the^colony if these societies were invited to forward a selection of papers read at their meetings, with abstracts of the discussions which ensue, to be printed by the Government in a plain form' when copies should be sold at the actual cost of printing: it seems undesirable to distribute them free of cost. The papers should be printed as read, but the department should retain the right of selection, which would ultimately be found necessary to prevent the annual volume becoming inconveniently large. In this way a vast amount of information now confined to a few individuals would be made readily available'for fruitgrowers at large, and the beneficial influence arising from its diffusion would be felt in every part of the colony. There is no doubt that the next three years will witness the development of a large export of fruit from the Australian Colonies to the chief ports of Great Britain, the Continent of Europe, and the United States, as fruit can be shipped here to reach those markets at a time when the home products are completely exhausted, while increased facilities are being afforded for shipment, and every effort made to shorten the time required for transport. It is stated that Great Britain alone imports American apples to the value of £2,000,0C0 per annum. It is, therefore, desirable that all reasonable assistance should be afforded to fruitgrowers in order that this colony may be prepared to claim her rightful share of this remunerative industry. School of Forestry, Pomology, and Agriculture. A report on the adaptability of the Kioreroa Block, Whangarei, to this purpose has been prepared and submitted in a separate form, together with a plan for the organization of the school on a self-supporting basis.

APPENDIX.

A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OE TREES AVAILABLE FOR FOREST-CULTIVATION IN NEW ZEALAND, BY T. KIRK, E.L.S., CHIEF CONSERVATOR OE STATE FORESTS. The following list has been prepared under the instructions of the Hon. the Commissioner of State Forests, with a view of assisting settlers who may contemplate the formation of plantations. The systematic and common names of each species are given (except in those cases where the tree has not received a common name), its native country, usual dimensions, properties of timber, and uses to which it is generally applied, all of which are stated as concisely as possible. The list makes no pretensions to be considered exhaustive, and is practically restricted to trees capable of producing timber of economic value, although a few species have been admitted on account of their value as hedge-plants, or affording bark for tanning purposes, or for their capacity of growing upon drift-sand, or for special power to resist fire, &c. At some future opportunity it is intended to enlarge the catalogue so as to include a copious selection of species adapted to the reclamation of coastal sand-wastes, and other special purposes connected with arboriculture. LIRIODENDRON {Linne). Liriodendron tulipifera {Linne). "Tulip-tree," "Yellow Wood." United States of North America.—A noble deciduous tree, 80ft. to 100ft. high, remarkable for its saddle-shaped leaves and handsome flowers. Wood yellowish or red, often streaked and waved; largely used for housebuilding, especially for inside work, doors, framing, furniture, shingles, canoes, railway-carriages, bridges, &c. A preparation of the bark of the roots is used for the cure of intermittent fevers' and a vermifuge for cattle is prepared from the bark of the trunk. RHAMNUS {Linne). The Buckthorn. Rhamnus Frangula {Linne). " The Berry-bearing Alder." Europe, Northern Africa, Temperate Asia.—Valuable for undergrowth in damp woods. Affords the best charcoal for the manufacture of gunpowder, and is largely imported into England from Belgium for that purpose. R. catharticus {C. Bauhin). "Buckthorn." Europe, Temperate Africa, and Asia.—Employed as a hedge-plant in the midland and southern counties of England, and would be of still greater value