24 



10. From the aixthor, Mr. M. Allport, a short History of the in- 

 troduction of the S.alinonidce to Tasmania, being a paper read 

 before the Zoological Society of London, 



11, From Mr. Justin Browne, Journals of House of Commons, 1G44, 

 Mr. Browne remarked that he presented these papers both because 



they were, he thought, new to the colony, and had reference to a 

 period of great historical interest. Mention is made of Lieutenant- 

 General Cromwell, Lord Fairfax, and other characters. The original 

 resolutrons as to the supply of armour, arms, and ammunition to the 

 army, raising of troops and loan money may be noticed, with many 

 other matters of interest to the student of the history of the day. 



^Ir. Davies fully agreed with Mr. Browne in thinking these parlia- 

 mentary papers possessed very great interest, and thought the Society 

 was much indebted for a presentation of such value. He took this op- 

 portunity also of proposing that the photograph of the deed of gift from 

 Lady Franklin (Presentation No. 9) should be framed and hung up in 

 the Museum as a memento of a lady who had done so much in the 

 interest of the Society, both during her residence amongst us, and long 

 subsequent to her departure. 



Mr. Gould cordially seconded. He thought we could not do too 

 much to indicate our appreciation of such a friend as Lady Franklin 

 had always shown herself to be to the cause of science in Tasmania. 

 The motion was unanimously agreed to, 



A paper by ]Mr. F. Abbott, Superintendent of the Society's Gardens, 

 on the Sugar Beet lately gi'own by him was read. Discussion ensued 

 when it was suggested that Mr. Abbott might further extend the notice 

 of the root by making observations on its cultivation, value of crop, 

 its immunity or otherwise from the attacks of insects which are so 

 fatal to the Turnip, or Brassica tribe. 



Mr. Abbott undertook to do so, and Mr. Davies promised to give 

 the paper as much pul)licity as possible in The Mercury. 



It will be recollected that information on this subject has already 

 been laid before the Society by Mr. Barnard and jNIr. J, Walker. By 

 the former in reference chiefly to the extraction of sugar by private 

 individuals, and in an inexpensive maimer in New South Wales ; by the 

 latter as to the mode of extracting alcohol and sugar on a large scale 

 in extensive manufactories in England and on the Continent. (See 

 Monthly Notices for June and August, 1869, and July, 1870.) 



The Secretary read the following communication on the growth and 

 preparation of cork-wood (for which the Society is indebted to Mr. 

 Justin Browne) from Mr. W. H. Reynolds, of Otago, who had been 

 formerly extensively engaged at home in the cork trade : — 



" The Cork Tree is grown chiefly in the provinces of Catalonia, Estre 

 madura, and Andalusia in Spain ; in Alemtejo, Estremadura, and Beira 

 in Portugal ; in the south of France, the island of Sicily, and Algeria in 

 Africa. The tree is naturally of slow growth, but grows faster in rich 

 and sandy, than in rocky soils ; the best cork, however, is procured 

 from trees grown in the latter. When from 12 to 18 feet high, the 

 trunk, including the cork, generally measures about one foot diameter. 

 At about this stage the tree may be stripped of the cork. The first 

 strip is useless as an article of trade, and can only be utilised as a 

 material for the floats of fishing nets. Cork may be stripped without 

 detriment to the tree, and the proj^er time for the operation in Europe 

 is between the end of Api-il and the beginning of October, The tree 

 possesses a bark under the cork, and care must be taken in stripping not 

 to take off or materially injure this under bark. The only tool used 

 in stripping is an American axe having a straight handle of the ordinary 



