BOLLS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1686, 22 June 1904, Page 27

BOLLS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) On Tuesday evening, 14tli inst., Mr Wmggo, late of the Queensland Weather Bureau, delivered one of his interesting and instructive lectures on astronomy. The lecturer is very enthusiastic and succeeds in making his audience interested in what is generally regarded as a somewhat dry subject. The excellent lantern slides with which the matter was illustrated helped materially in making clear the theory of evolution .as explained by the * lecturer. The telescopio pictures, taken from the largest instruments in the •world were a revelation and well worth v seeing; those of the moon were particularly fine. When these wonderful pictures * are thrown on the canvas Mr Wragge frequently exclaims, “Oh !’’ for -which he told the audience he had been criticised severely by the editor of a Palmerston North paper. He said if that editor could get away from the swamp in front of the paper office and take a tour among the ‘millions of suns in the Milky Way he would exclaim “Oh!" He entreated a blessing on that editor. On Thursday evening, 16th inst., Professor Kirk delivered a very interesting - lecture on “Fungus Diseases.” The professor had prepared elides showing the various species of parasitic fungi as seen on the host plants. "’All the fungi except tlie rust, are. lie. explained easily kept in ' check by spraying with Bordeaux mixture (copper and bluestone), hut the rust, which played such havoc with the oat crop on this coast last season cannot be kept in check by any known mixture. He advised farmers to endeavour, by using silica fertilisers, to harden the • foliage stalk of the grain, and thus make it more able to withstand the ravages of the mist. . The- warm., still, showery weather during last season was the cause of the presence of-so much rust on the oat crop. The Algerian oat withstands this disease better than, any other varies

ties. The scab on potatoes, the fungus on the leaf, the fungus on tomatoes, etc., dan all be killed by spraying with any of the mixtures recommended by the Agricultural Department, and Professor Kirk will forward particulars to anyone (gratis) who may apply to him. At the conclusien of the lecture, on the motion of Mr Vile, M.H.R., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the professor. Mr J. G. Wilson and Mr Vile, who were instrumental in getting Professor Kirk to lecture here, deserve the thanks of the co i'muuity. After the lecture Professor Kirk showed a very good Bet of pictures taken on the present Parliamentary trip to the islands. Jun® 17th, 1964.