47 



extractinp; the fibre, the cost of separation not to exceed £15 per ton, and the 

 value of the separated fibre to be not less than £50 per ton. 



"In China where the plant is extensively cultivated, the fibre is separated by- 

 hand, but this mode of separation, a tedious one, is only suited to labor of the 

 cheapest description, and could not be adopted in the colonies. 



"I have planted a small bed in the gardens with this plant, with the view of 

 proving how far it is adapted for culture in Tasmania. 



"F. ABBOTT, JuN., 



" 11. S. Gardens. 



" 12th September, 1870." 



A paper, entitled " Notes of an Excursion to Cummings's Head and the 

 Falls of the Meander, on the Western Mountains, Tasmania," by W. Archer, 

 Esq., F.L.S., was then read by the Secretary. 



Special votes of thanks having been accorded to Mr. Archer, and to the 

 Smithsonian and other institutions in America, the meeting closed with 

 the usual thanks to donors of presentations. 



