4 The South Australian Naturalist. 



sions solely pleasant companionship and agreeable change, 

 and he gallantly added that ladies were especially welcome, 

 a remark which was loudly applauded. It is interesting to 

 note that the Professor's idea in regard to evening meetings 

 was that the lectures should be conversational rather than of 

 the customary formal character, and should deal with sub- 

 jects alike entertaining and instructive, and that a prominent 

 feature would be the use of the microscope. A separate 

 Microscopical Section was afterwards established, but did 

 not survive for a great while. 



The "Register," which gave an excellent report of this 

 inaugural lecture — and to which I am largely indebted for 

 many of the facts here recounted — added that Air. W. H. 

 Selway, Junr., proposed a vote of thanks to the Professor. 

 Mr. Pickels, on whom so much of the inaugural work of the 

 Section depended, and who was a most energetic, genial, and 

 enthusiastic secretary, remained in office only from November, 

 1883, to May, 1885, when business called him to Melbourne. 

 Professor Tate remained in ofifice for two years as Chairman, 

 but rendered much assistance for many years subsequently. 



The First General Meeting of the Section was held in 

 the vSouth Australian Institute on Tuesday, November 13, 

 1883. Professor Tate presided, and the following were elected 

 as the first officers of the Section : — Chairman : Professor 

 Ralph Tate, F.G.S., F.L.S. ; Vice-Chairmen : Mr. H. T. Whit- 

 tell, M.D., Rev. W. Howchin, F.G.S. ; Committee: Mr. W. L. 

 Cleland, ]\I.B., Mr. W. Haacke, Ph.D., Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, 

 F.L.S., Mr. A. Molineux, Mr. W. H. Selway, junr., Mr. Geo. 

 Collis, junr., Mr. H. Dean, and Mr. G. F. Hussey ; Hon. Sec- 

 rctarv: Mr. \V. F. Pickels, F.R.M.S. 



NOTES ON THE VITALITY OF THE 

 SOURSOP (Oxalis cernua). 



By A. G. Edquist. 



With a view to outlining notes of lessons on the soursop, 

 which in autumn and winter makes fields and neglected 

 gardens brilliant with living gold, a number of bulbs were 

 grow^n in observation boxes. 



In the spring of 1915, when the maturation of the plants 

 was complete, several of the bulbs were taken from the 

 observation box, placed in a tobacco tin, and put away in a 

 cupboard. 



