PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 5 



Dr. J. M. Petrie, Linnean Macleay Fellow in Biochemistry, 

 has concluded his investigation of the role of nitrogen in 

 plant-metabolism ; and the results of his later researches, 

 embodied in Parts iii.-v. of the series, were published in Part 

 i., of last year's Proceedings. His work upon the alkaloids 

 of Solandra, Duboisia, and several other promising plants, is 

 being continued, but has been somewhat interrupted by the 

 lack of adequate material. An important paper on the chemis- 

 try of Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras Endl.) has been com- 

 pleted, and will be communicated to the Society at the Meet- 

 ing in April. Considerable progress has also been made in a 

 systematic survey of indigenous and other plants for hydro- 

 cyanic acid compounds. This investigation promises to be 

 one of great interest and importance. Perhaps the most 

 important discovery so far is that of the presence of hydro- 

 cyanic acid in a blue couch-grass (Cynodon incompletus Nees), 

 originally introduced from South Africa, but which has now 

 spread over a considerable area in the northern districts of 

 the State. This discovery explains the otherwise mysterious 

 fatalities among stock which have been attracting serious 

 attention of late. I have much pleasure in announcing to 

 you that the Council has reappointed Dr. Petrie to a Fellow- 

 ship for another year from 1st proximo; and in offering him 

 the Society's congratulations on the important and promising 

 lines of work which he is opening up. 



For special reasons, detailed in the last Presidential 

 Address, two Fellowships remained vacant during the year. 

 Three candidates offered themselves in response to the Coun- 

 cil's invitation for the period 1912-13 : and I have now great 

 pleasure in making the first public announcement of the elec- 

 tion of Mr. Edwara F. Kallmann, B.Sc, and of Mr. Arthur 

 B. Walkom, B.Sc, to Linnean Macleay Fellowships, their 

 appointments dating from 1st proximo. 



Mr. Hallraann took his degree in Science at the Sydney Uni- 

 versity in 1906; was subsequently Science Master, Sydney Boys' 

 High School, for three and one-half years; and for nearly three 



