764 



PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



papers read by him before the Society during the year; and the 

 Bacteriological plant is all in excellent condition. 



The 100th Part of the Proceedings completing Vol. xxv., is in 

 the press and will shortly be ready for issue. The publication 

 of the "Catalogue of the Described Mosses of New South Wales," 

 contributed by Rev. W. W. Watts and Mr. Whitelegge, has had 

 to be deferred for the present, but it is hoped that the Society 

 may be able to accomplish it during this year. 



The caretaker's lodge has been repaired and much improved at 

 an expense of £80 8s. 6d. 



At the meetings of the Society there have been read 48 papers 

 on various interesting subjects, including 12 dealing with ordinarj' 

 botanical matters and 9 on bacteria — now admitted to belong to 

 the vegetable kingdom. 



It is not surprising that botanical research should form one of 

 the leading features of a Society named after the immortal 

 founder of a system magnificent in its simplicity. 



Previously to his time, botany can hardly be said to have 

 existed, for there was no intelligent scheme of nomenclature or 

 classification; not infrequently flowers were called "roses, lilies," 

 &c, and fruits "apples, pears," &c, without being in any way 

 related to the orders in which those names occur ; and trivial 

 names, even more ridiculous than those used in Australia, were 

 conferred on all common plants. 



Thenceforth, however, confusion was replaced by order, and 

 uncertainty by certainty ; botany was no longer looked upon as 

 triviality, unworthy of scientific men, and books, teaching its 

 principles and illustrating the beauties and wonders of the 

 vegetable kingdom, began to be freely published, and have con- 

 tinued to improve up to the present time, affording a rational 

 delight to tens of thousands. 



Although the system of Linnreus has been almost entirely 

 superseded by the natural system, his main principle has really 

 been incorporated into, and forms part of the latter, the chief 



