102 



EOYAL SOCIETY, 



NOVEMBEE, 1864. 



The monthly evening meeting of the Fellows was held on Tuesday, the 8th 

 November, J. Barnard, Esq., in the chair. 



W. R. Giblin, Esq., who had been previously nominated by the Council, was 

 after a ballot declared to be duly elected a Fellow of the Society. 



The following returns were laid on the table : — 



1. Visitors to Museum during October, 437. 



2. Ditto to Gardens during October, 2,961. 



3. Periodicals &c., received (the usual). 



4. Plants &c., received at Gardens :— From Messrs. Handyside and McMillan, 

 Melbourne, 30 papers of flower seeds. From Dr. Moore, New Norfolk, 12 

 varieties of potatoes imported from Scotland. From His Excellency Colonel 

 Gore Browne, 100 seedling olives, and truncheons of three varieties of ditto, 

 from Adelaide. 



In reference to the olive plants, the Secretary (Dr. Agnew) remarked that 

 His Excellency, from his knowledge of the soil and climate required by the 

 olive, had formed the opinion that it should grow and mature its fruit well in 

 this locality. He had consequently written to the Governor of South Australia, 

 Sir Dominick Daly, to request him to obtain for us such cuttings, &c., as 

 might be required to enable us to test its growth. Sir Dominick in the kind- 

 est manner promptly complied with the request, and in sending the plants, 

 forwarded also the following letter from the gentleman who had furnished 

 them. ^ 



" Rundle-street, 



" July 28th, 1864. 



" Dear Sir Dominick,— I feel quite at a loss to offer any observations upon 

 the culture of the olive, which could present anything new to so learned a 

 body as the Royal Society of Tasmania. The only thing which it strikes me 

 that they are desirous of knowing is the mode which is adopted here in the 

 propagation of the plants, and perhaps they would likewise wish to ascertain 

 the kinds, or varieties of olives at present cultivated or introduced into this 

 province. 



" As to the first I believe it is generally admitted that seedlings, or wild 

 plants are the best when worked with approved varieties, and it is with the view 

 of establishing in Tasmania well grown trees, that I have the honor of placing 

 at your disposal the few seedlings which you intend for the Royal Society of 

 Tasmania. Of course it will be understood that when these are established, 

 grafts will be supplied. The mode of grafting most recommended here, is 

 undergi'ound grafting, with two-year old wood — and the time selected for the 

 operation is in September. 



" Another mode of propagating the olive in this province, is by planting 

 truncheons horizontally in the ground at a depth of 11 or 16 inches, at the end 

 of the summer ; these are to be attended to so as to ensure single stalks from 

 the cuttings, aa in this mode of culture many are apt to stool. 



" The varieties of olive known to be cultivated here are at least five, viz. : — 

 Saliven, Blanquet, Verdale, Gros Redonnaou, Olivier d'Espagne. 



" I regret that I cannot obtain plants of these varieties at present, but I shall 

 make arrangements to have some seedlings worked for the Royal Society of 

 Tasmania, and when they are fit I shall have much pleasure in placing them 

 at your Excellency's disposal for transmission to them. 



" In this or any other matter in which anything can be done for the benefit 

 of Tasmania, I think I may freely state that the Acclimatisation Society here 

 will only be too glad to have the opportunity of being of service to their fellow- 

 subjects in that lovely island. 



" I remain, 



" My dear Sir Dominick, 



" Yours faithfully, 



" B. W. MooRE." 



The Secretary further observed that the introduction of the olive (if our 

 climate proved suitable) would be a matter of importance to the colony. The 

 oil could be extracted at a very trifling expense, it would furnish a most valua- 

 ble export, and the market for it was illimitable. 



Mr. Abbott (Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens) was certain the tree 

 would grow, but doubted if its fruit would ever arrive at suflBcient maturity to 

 furnish the oil. In the mean time the trees and truncheons had all been planted, 



