22 



as a fellow-worker and correspondent. The study of Tasmanian 

 lichens has been further advanced by the publication, in the 

 Proceedings of the Eoyal Society of Tasmania, of papers by the 

 Revd. F. R. ]\I. Wilson and by myself, after holidays spent in 

 that most beautiful island. Mr. Wilson was assisted in his 

 collections by Messrs. Bastow, Morton, and Weymouth ; and 

 Mr. Weymouth also gave me specimens from his gatherings. 



A knowledge of the botany of New Guinea is gradually being 

 acquired, mainly through the exertions of its able Administrator 

 Sir William McGregor ; and all plants gathered by himself or 

 officers are sent to Baron von Mueller for determination. In 

 his "Brief Notes on some Papuan Plants" published m the 

 "Victorian Naturalist" of November, 1892, the Baron says 

 " already towards the end of last year I described for the tenth part 

 of the 'Papuan Plants' several remarkable novelties." Bearingin 

 mind the fact that the eastern colonies of Australia are jointly 

 responsible for the cost of government in New Guinea, informa- 

 tion respecting the plants collected at their joint expense should 

 flow a little more freely from Melbourne than it does at present. 



Before closing my address reference must be made to Mr. Otto 

 Nordstedt's monograph on the Australian Characeae, published 

 at Lund in 1891, and giving illustrations and descriptions of 

 plants of the genera Chara and Nitella, such as should prove 

 invaluable to the botanical student. 



It must not be thought for a moment that a complete know- 

 ledge of our Queensland flora has been gained. The opening of 

 the North Coast Railway has shown that many so-called north- 

 ern species have a much more southerly range than has hitherto 

 been suspected ; while along the same line new species continue 

 to be brought to light. In Cape York Peninsula, on the shores 

 of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and on our western frontier, there 

 are large areas practically as yet untouched. There is also a 

 large field for collectors in the long narrow strip known as the 

 " desert belt," which runs parallel to and west of the main range, 

 and is crossed by travellers to Hughenden, to Aramac, and to 

 Goondiwindi. Although poorly grassed this belt is rich in 

 flowering shrubs, many of them bearing large and showy 

 blossoms, and among these are yet to be found plants unclassed 

 by the botanist. 



