PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 17

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

At the meeting of the Philosophical Society on Wednesday evening, Mr G. V. Hudson, F.E S., read a paper on codlin moth-, in which he pointed out that much had been written and said at variuus times ou the codlin moth in its relation to apple culture in New Zealand, but as far as he was able to ascertain, the knowledge of the insect's economy in this country was at present very incomplete. He did not intend to offer fresh information, but merely wished to draw attention to a few points of special importance in connection wir.h any steps that might be taken at some future date to eradicate the insect from the Colony. In the first place if the indigenous species really commits great damage in the orchard it would be a serious matter to deal with. He was of opinion that more damage was done to apples by the introduced insect carpocapsa pomonella than by codlin moths. To ascertain the actual damage committed by this insect would be to obtain the assistance of the fruit growers, or else by a careful inspection of many orchards. He suggested the distribution of a number of v< oured figures illustrating the life ni-t-wy of Imb species, in order to show all de • ils. It wool i pnne what insect was doing r,i e mit-c aef, and *.oud information could thus be obtained. Air Hobbs, M.H.R., hid fur. ished him with specimens of C. pomonella, in alt stages of its existence, from the A uik aud district. The Chairman said he w mid, with the assistance of Sir Walter Buffer, wait upon the Minister for Education and urge upon him the advi-ableness ol distributing tiom 50 to 100 eopi> s of a book which Mr Hudson is having pub ished with ivgaid to the c abin moth. Mr ulke pointed out th >t the rising generation of INew Zealand scarce y knew the difference betweeu a uioa and a fly. He was of upini n that the distribution of the book amongst the teachers would prove ve.y beneficial. S r Walter promised to do all in his power to aid ihe dis rihution of the work.

VI r Hulke read a paper prepared by Mr T. Wakeliit, M.A., on a new and highly sensitive baiometer. The paper was received, but no discussion took pla e. Mr 1. W. Kirk, F. R. M S., read a paper on the sparrow in New Zealand, and said he would at a futo e meeting 1 y before the Society aco nplete history of that bird. He referied at some leng’h to the distribution of sparrows and the damage th y had done. - Mr W. T. L. Travers spoke at some length on the paper. Sir Walter Buffer said he was responsible for the appearance of the sparrow in New Zealand. He advertised to give LIOO for one hundred sparrows in England in 1865. The advertisement was quickly responded to, and he brought the first birds out to this Colony. He spoke at soma length on the matter, and in his opinion sparrows had been very useful to the farmers in clearing their property of insects which did mors damage than the birds, Ha stronelv protested against their extinction.