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There is probably somo predisposing reason for the strike, possibly a skindisease, and research should be directed more to the prevention of the conditions which give rise to this strike than to curing the strike itself, which can be done at present. (viii) Deforested Beech Country Requests have been made to us that an investigation should be made of the deforested beech country throughout New Zealand. We have had it pointed out to us that wherever the original bush cover was beech forest the country appears to have been left in an impoverished condition, as farming has either failed on it or has continued after a very hard struggle. It appears to us that the position should be investigated to see what factors cause the poverty of the land which has been under beech forest. (ix) Experimental Station for East Coast Areas Requests have been made for an experimental station on the East Coast country of the North Island as this area is one which is subject to droughts. It has been pointed out that the research station in the North Island located at Palmerston North is in a well-distributed rainfall-belt, and that the plants introduced and bred there are mainly for such favourable rainfall conditions. It is considered by farmers that their suitability and value are very restricted. An experimental station is thoroughly justified in addition to the existing station at Palmerston North. (x) New Strains of Low-fertility-demanding Grasses Very considerable advances have been made in the breeding of new strains of grasses and clovers such as rye-grass, both perennial and short-rotation. These, however, are suitable only for very fertile soils, and in many respects only where top-dressing is economic. There is a need for similar research into the evolution of better, more palatable, and more nutritive strains of such poorer grasses as danthonia brown-top, Yorkshire fog, sweet vernal, Poa pratensis, which will thrive under the dry and less fertile conditions which prevail in much of the hill country. Consideration might also be given to the breeding of a strain of cocksfoot more tolerant of these conditions. It must be recognized that it is not going to be possible in the near future to top-dress all the country throughout New Zealand, and that therefore only a proportion of the land can be put in a condition to grow the very good new strains of grasses and clovers which have been evolved. Consequently, immediate research is required to produce improved strains of the poorer grasses for the remainder of the country which cannot be top-dressed. (xi) Manuka Blight Considerable interest has been shown throughout New Zealand on the subject of manuka blight. The following description of the blight was provided for us by the Agrostologist of the Department of Agriculture : During the winter of 1948 a two months' survey of the incidence of manuka blight was carried out by an officer of the Department of Agriculture. In the Ashburton district an intensive study of the " blight " has been made by an entomologist of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. These combined investigations show that the " blight "is a fungus which lives on the sticky exudate of a scale insect. Many plants act as hosts for a fairly large number of scale insects, the varying exudates supporting different fungi. In most species of plants the blight has only a weakening effect.