44 



nile, and an adequate 8ni>i)ly of the roots could be depended on, there 

 is no doubt there would be some one in advance to initiate the 

 manufacture ; and cajntalists would be found with sullicient enterprise to 

 engage in an undcrtakiu'^ fraught witli such l)enelits to tlie country. He 

 was glad to see that four pt»uiuls was the average weight of tlie roots in 

 Mr. Johnston's crop, as this was just the standard weight likely to 

 contain the proper (quantity of sugar. Mr. Barnard added that he had 

 procured the most recent work on making sugar from the beet, and 

 would be happy to give full information on the subject to any intending 

 manufacturer. 



Mr. T. GiiiLiN observed that many years ago he grew the beet largely 

 for feeding all sorts of stock, for which it was admirably adapted. 

 Although the roots singly were smaller than those of the mangold the 

 weight of the crop per acre was really greater. He had had as much 

 as twenty- six tons from the acre. 



At the request of several members present, Mr. Barnard promised to 

 prepare a paper on the subject,from the latest authorities, for the next 

 meeting. 



The Chairman read the following letter : — 



** Black Brush, 



" September 6th, 1872. 

 "Morton Allport, Esq. 



"Sir, — I have to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Mr, Charles 

 Gould, soliciting information from me of a strange animal seen in the 

 pools of the Jordan, My reason for not complying with the request 

 before, was, that I was not able to see the parties in consequence of 

 the dreadful state of the weather and the flooded state of the river 

 Jordan, I have since obtained the information required, and will now 

 state what I know of the affair. 



** It was first seen about 2 years ago in the large pool at Mr. Munday's 

 farm at the Black Brush by Mr. Munday himself. He states that it 

 was like a seal with round head and two flippers, and plunged into the 

 river. It was afterwards seen by the Messrs, Tonks further up the 

 river ; it was then seen by the Cox family near their house ; and by 

 several others afterwards in the large lagoon under the rocks opposite 

 my house, and by Mrs. Chaplin on the bank of the river close to the 

 cows in the meadow, "When approached it bounded into the river. 

 She describes it as having a round head and flippers ; that it was about 

 four feet long, of a dark grey colour, and made a noise like *' hu " " hu" 

 I have myself seen the water thrown up, but could not account for it. 

 Others have seen the same — Mr. Gunn and the Messrs. McLaren. It 

 was afterwards seen farther up the Jordan by Mr. Collis's shepherd, who 

 states that it was lying by a log, and when disturbed it went into the 

 river. It has not been seen lately, my impression is that it has made 

 its way up the Jordan, perhaps as far as Lake Tiberias, At night was 

 the time it was heard to make a noise. It very much alarmed one of 

 Mr, Cox's sons when watering his horses at the Jordan, He thought it 

 was one of the cattle which had fallen in the river ; he has seen nothing 

 of it since. Should I hear anything further I will communicate with 

 you, 



** Your obedient servant, 



"Edward Chaplin," 



"P.S. — Tuesday morning, 10th September. 



"Mr. Fane Cox was at my house this morning, and informs me 

 that going home a few nights since, when passing by the rocks opposite 

 the lagoon by my land, some large animal went down the rocks into 

 the river, making a loud noise and throwing up the water. He waited 



