io4 KeblEj Picric Acid md Grass-tree Gum 



Vict. Nat. 

 Vol. XXXII 



serve as a temporary expedient one that is easily obtained, 

 though perhaps expensive, and readily treated. The purpose 

 of this note will have been achieved if it gives a terse but 

 complete summary of the facts relating to grass-tree gum, 

 for the information of those whose onerous duties are to 

 provide munitions tor the successful prosecution of the war. 



APPENDIX. 



i. Marshall. Arthur Explosives: then Manufacture, Properties 

 Tests, and History, iqis. 



2. Morley and Muir — Watt's Dictionary of Chemistrj vol. i. 



3. Von Mueller, F. — Select Extra-Tropical Plants. [895. 



4. Maiden, J. H. — Useful Native Plants ol Australia. 



5. Plant Names Committee. — Vernacular Names of Victorian Plants 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, vol. i\.. tqii. 



6. Guilfovi i W. Australian Plants. 



7. Chemist and Druggist Supplement, roth April, 1915. 



A Bli.ni> Botanist.- Mr. J. R. Murdoch, oi Parkville, for- 

 wards a cutting from the Leeds (Eng.) Mercury for _'ist May, 

 announcing that the Leeds University is about to confer the 

 honorary degree of Master of Science on Mr. J. G. Wilkinson. 

 of Leeds, familiarly known as the blind botanist. Mr. Wilkin- 

 son, who is now in his sixtieth year, lost bis sighl as the result 

 of a severe illness nearly forty years ago ; but, inheriting a love 

 of plants from his mother, he has 1 1 iumphed over his niislort une. 

 and ha- 1 ome to be recognized as a leading authority on plants and 

 trees. He lias learned by touch oi taste to distinguish all the 

 plants of the neighbourhood, and even with foreign species, 

 if unknown to nun, can generally give some idea of then 

 tematii position, and when given the name is ready with 

 many details .1- to habits, uses, &c. Both Mr. Wilkinson and 

 his mothei were personally known to Mr. Murdoch when living 

 in 1 .. ed s some yeai - 



"Si"iii prom Nature.' An excellenl little volume, vei \ 

 suitable as .1 readei foi schools, has been recentlj published l>\ 

 Macmillan and Co., London, undei the title oi "Stories from 

 Nature." Its author (Miss) I \ Fletcher, oi Tasmania, is to 

 atulated on the happy way in which she has introdui < d 

 natural history facts into hei tales, and created an interesi in 

 her stories. The volume contains some thirt) illustrations, 

 which have the merit oi being photographs from nature, man} 

 of them oi nests and egg oi familial birds. It is cloth bound. 

 and tb. price is one shilling and ninepence. 



