PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 9 



for distribution. They presented a wide range of subjects for 

 consideration, and in some cases called for ampler opportunities 

 for discussion than the time available at the Meetings allowed, 

 or until those interested had had the opportunity of seeing the 

 papers in print. As soon as provision can be made for it, a 

 special opportunity for discussing the topics treated of in the 

 papers by Messrs. AnJrews, Halligan, Taylor, and Dr. Woolnough 

 will be afforded; and an announcement upon the subject may be 

 looked for at the next Meeting. 



The additions to the library for the year amounted to a total 

 of 1,471 (inclu'ling 127 Vols), received l)y gift or exchange from 

 203 Societies, &c., and 16 individuals. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the time for repainting and 

 renovating the exterior of the Society's premises arrived during 

 the year and was duly provided for, I am glad to be able to say 

 that the Hon. Tieasurer will be able to announce presently that 

 we began the current year with a credit balance from last Session. 



During the year that has passed, the Macleay Bacteriologist 

 has been engaged upon researches connected with that important 

 bacterium, the nodule-former of the Leynmhiosce. Although the 

 presence of slime in the cells of the nodules and the occurrence of 

 the same in artificial culture under certain conditions, have been 

 known for some time, the real significance of the slime has not 

 hitherto been demonstrated. His first research showed that the 

 slime formed by the microbe contained as its essential constituent, 

 a gum which appeared to approximate in some respect to the 

 carbohydrate of certain nucleoproteids, and on this account the 

 slime in the nodule probably serves to build up the nucleoproteids 

 of the leguminous plant. Using the formation of slime as an 

 index of the activit}-- of the bacterium, it was shown that the 

 bacteria from the nodules of various leguminous plants differed 

 from one another physiologically. But from the fact that three 

 European races of the micro organism, which had been induced 

 to reassurae their slime-forming property in the laboratory, were 

 physiologically identical, it is evident that the physiological 

 function is mutable, and that the bacterium may adapt itself 

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