78 INTRODUCTION OF ECONOMIC PLANTS 



for the introduction and distribution of a very largo 

 number of the economic plants grown at the present day, 

 and in the early days of settlement it assumed the 

 functions now performed by the State Farms. The name 

 of Walter Hill, who was the first Director, and occupied 

 the position until 1880, will ever be remembered, for it 

 was due, in a large measure, to his efforts that such 

 successful work was done in this direction. 



The Acclimatisation Society, which was formed in 

 1862, has also been instrumental in forwarding this good 

 work, and worked side by side with the Brisbane Botanic 

 Gardens. Indeed, during the first year or two. plants 

 introduced by the Society were intrusted to the keeping 

 of the Gardens, until Bowen Park, the home of the Society, 

 was ready for their reception. In connection with the 

 work of the Acclimatisation Society, the name of L. A. 

 Bernays, C.M.G., who, by the way, was a past president 

 of our Society, ^^'ill always be closely associated, for it was 

 principally due to his indefatigable energies that the Society 

 has earned such a world-wide reputation. The Society 

 was fortunate that the mantle of this worthy gentleman 

 fell on another enthusiastic worker. I refer to Leslie 

 G. Corrie, who, since he succeeded Mr. Bernays in 1896, has 

 interested himself in continuing the good work previously 

 performed, especially with regard to sugar cane, pineapples, 

 and bananas. Valuable assistance has also been rendered 

 by W. H. Parker, the Vice-President of the Society. 



Among those who gave practical demonstration of 

 their interest in the work under notice, J. G. Cribb stood 

 in the front rank, he being the introducer of many of the 

 kinds of American fruits now being grown in the State. 



One of the early introducers of economics was J. C. 

 Bidwill who, between the time of his appointment as 

 Lands' Commissioner in 1848 and his death early in 1853, 

 is said to have imported quite a number of interesting 

 plants, the best of which were removed, after his death, 

 to the Sydney Botanic Gardens, and although I can find 

 no list of those taken away, I believe they were included 

 in the economics sent from that institution in 1854 to M. 

 C. O'Connell, at Port Curtis, and to a gardener in Brisbane, 

 and mentioned in the annual report of the Sydney Botanic 

 Gardens for that year. G. W. Dart, a very old resident 



