780 president's address. 



to the bark and timber, could distinguish the ordinary species 

 more readily than scientists by the inflorescence. 



Like most systematic botanists, Mueller seems to have had 

 little or no love of horticulture, and consequently complaints 

 were made that the Botanical gardens under his charge were 

 neglected and in a slovenly condition, and ultimately they were 

 taken out of his hands. Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle having been ap- 

 pointed Curator, and being a practical landscape gardener as well 

 as a botanist, has since worked wonders in improving them, and 

 has satisfied every one except the Baron, who was never able to 

 forgive him up to the time of his death in 1896. 



The numerous botanical publications which redound to the 

 credit of the Baron's memory, are too well and too favourably 

 known to make if necessary for me to mention them categorically. 



It is not possible to overestimate the value of these works, 

 particularly as, through extended settlements, ringbarking, over- 

 stocking and other causes, the original flora is being constantly 

 destroyed, though not unfrequently replaced by importations of 

 worthless or even injurious plants. 



In 1854, Mr W. H. Harvey came to Australia for the express 

 purpose of investigating the algology of its shores, and visited 

 King George's Sound, Swan River, and Cape Riche, Melbourne, 

 Tasmania and Sydney, forming a magnificent collection: many of 

 his specimens have been published in " Phycologia Australica," 

 which is illustrated with 240 beautiful colored plates. 



In 1858, Mr. Babbage conducted an expedition to the north- 

 east of Lake Torrens, and was accompanied by Mr. David Hergott 

 as botanist, who seems to have made up a good herbarium, which 

 was reported on by Mueller. 



Between 1858 and 1862, John McDouall Stuart conducted 

 several expeditions from Adelaide into the interior, and finally 

 succeeded in reaching the Indian Sea, which Burke and McKinlay 

 did not actually, though they did virtually, succeed in doing. 

 During these expeditions of Stuart's, the first botanical explora- 

 tion of the Larapintine region took place, and the expeditions 





