750 president's address. 



instances, especially as I doubt whether some of the changes he 

 has sanctioned will ever receive general endorsement in this 

 continent. But this is really a minor matter, and should not 

 diminish our indebtedness to the Trustees of the British Museum, 

 and to Mr. Britten for the service they have done in making 

 these illustrations available to us. 



The appearance of an important work by Webber on the 

 fecundation of Zamia^ is of special interest to us in a country 

 where Cycadece are so well developed. Spermatogenesis in plants 

 (Cycadece and Ginglio) was only announced in 1896 by the 

 Japanese botanists Hirase and Ikeno, and Dr. Webber's work, 

 begun in 1897, is rich in original matter, and contains a valuable 

 bibliography. I do not doubt that our Australian physiologists 

 will find his research full of inspiration. 



The most serious loss to Australian botanical science during 

 the year has been the death of Professor Ralph Tate of 

 Adelaide, to whose life-work I have already alluded. He 

 was one of the race of all-round naturalists, and achieved 

 distinction in several branches of science. In botany he was a 

 brilliant systematist of the conservative school, and Australian 

 botany would have been richer but for the claims of other sciences 

 on his time. His crisp dogmatism commanded attention, and if 

 his statements appeared sometimes bold at first, they always 

 secured respect, as his wide knowledge was willingly recognised. 

 Personally I mourn a loyal friend and co-worker with whom I 

 have been associated for many years, and I trust that his fine 

 herbarium will be sacredly preserved, and that a South Australian 

 will arise to continue his investigations on the flora of that State. 



The Nestor of Australian botanists, Mr. F. M. Bailey, Govern- 

 ment Botanist of Queensland, displays no flagging of his powers. 

 During the year he has issued Part iv. of his excellent " Queens- 

 land Flora," including the orders Hygrophyllacece to Eleagnacece. 



* " Spermatogenesis and Fecundation of Zamia," by Herbert J. Webber. 

 Bulletin No. 2 Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. (Issued 

 December 28, 1901.) 



