PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9307, 6 August 1908, Page 3

PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

I The*e was a good attendance at the meeting of the Philosophical Institute last evening, when Mr A. M. 'Wright delivered an interesting address on " Some Applications of Chemistry to Agricultural Industries. " The speaker said that the application of chemistry to agriculture was of recfent date. One of the greatest problems that had concerned those who had taken up this branch of chemical research was the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Some years ago it had been proved that the supply of nitrate in the earth would be exhausted by 1925, and New Zealand alone was a case in point, in that it exported nearly 10,000 tons of nitrate yearly. Unless the loss were made up the position would 6oon become serious, and scientists set about finding a remedy. The leguminous plants solved the difficulty. Nodule 6on the roots of peas, beans and such plants were shown to be full ( of colonies of bacteria, and soil could be impregnated with them. He described methods of cultivating the bacteria, and displayed a small package which contained enough bacteria for an acre of land. In America the bacteria were put up in packets and sold to farmers, and it was proposed to commence the industry in .New Zealand. Mr Wright went on to refer to the importance of the application, of chemistry to the carcases of sheep, tracing the frozen meat industry and the treatment of by-pro-ducts. An interesting description of the treatment of portions of the organs and glands for the manufacture of medicines was given. Peptonoids, the organic iodine from the thyroid gland of the animal, and the albumen from which textile colours were obtained, were treated of, and the lecturer said that in America even the. undigested food in the animal's stomach was used for the manufacture of paper. Mr Wright dealt with several other phases of the application of chemistry to agriculture, pointing out it 6 importance in up-to-date farming. He. was heartily" thanked for the address. Mr J. C. Andersen read a paper on " A New Poetical Metre from Australia.," and was accord** 1 , a vote of thanks.