OF THE SOCIETY. 145 



1913. 



"chemical analysis and otherAvise, the nature and proper- 

 "ties of the gums, resins, and other vegetable products of 

 "this island, as well as the qualities of those vegetable sub- 

 "stances that may be rendered useful in medicine, dyeing, 



"etc 



"The Society has had two Horticultural Shows : one in 

 "December, for summer flowers, fruits, etc. ; the other in 

 "February, for autumnal flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc. ; 

 "both of them proved very satisfactory. The fii-st was 

 "held at the Pavilion on the day of the regatta; the latter 

 "in the Music Hall in Collins-street." 



The horticultural shows held by the Society were dis- 

 continued at the end of 1845, in consequence of the estab- 

 lishment of the Hobart Town Gardeners' and Amateui's' 

 Horticultural Society; and the shows of the new Society 

 were supported by the membei"s of the Royal Society. (50) 

 Towards the end of 1845 Mr. F. W. Newman, of Sydney, 

 was appointed Superintendent of the Gardens. (51) 



During 1844, 1845, and 1846, the meetings of the 

 Society were held in town, frequently at the office of the 

 Colonial Treasurer. In 1846 and 1847 the Society met 

 in the house at the Gardens. 



The report presented at the annual meeting held in 

 Februaiy, 1846, indicates that the Society was about to 

 cany out its higher objects as a scientific institution 

 (p. 9):- 



"It is proposed that the Monthly Meetings, which have 

 "been hitherto almost exclusively occupied in ballotting 

 "for Members and appointing Office-bearers, shall be 

 ^'specially devoted to the reading of a paper, and extem- 

 "poraneous discussion upon some point either theoretically 

 "or practically connected with those branches of natural 

 "science which it is the design of the Society to cultivate 

 "and encourage. . . . Acrreeably to the sug^eestions of His 

 "Excellency, the President of the Society, the Council 

 "intend, as soon as they shall have adequate funds at 

 "their disposal, to fit up the rooms of the cottage lately 

 "occupied by the Secretarv, as a Museum and Reading 

 "Room." 



At the monthly meeting held in June, 1846, Dr. Lillie 

 read a paper on "The Eucalyptus and other genera of the 

 "natural order Myrtaceae indigenous to Van Di ©men's 



(50) Report, 1846, p. 8. 



(51) Mr Newman is tlie first Superintendent mentioned in the Reports 

 of the Society. Mr. Abbott's notebook records that Mr. Herbertson (who 

 had previously been employed under the Governor) was appointed 

 head gardener on 16th November. 1843; Mr. Grant became Snr>erintena- 

 ent on 30th May, 1&44 ; and Mr. J. Dickenson on 5th May, 1845. 



