16 



11. From Mr. G. W. Rex. — A Potato, pierced in two directions by the 



underground stems of the Couch Grass (Tritieum repensj. 

 The following additions to the Library were reported : — 



■ 1. From the Hon. the Cclonial Secretary. — Two pamphlets — **The 

 Progress and Resources of New South Wales," by C. Robinson, 

 Esq. ; and "Tobacco : its Culture and the Curing of its Leaf," 

 by Aug. Morris, Esq. 



2. From H. M. Hull, Esq. — Three pamphlets, viz., — "Contributions 



to the Flora of Iowa," 



"Regulations of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society," 

 and ' ' Prizes for Arboriculture offered by the Trustees of the 

 Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture." 



3. From H. C. Russell, Esq.— "The Climate of New South Wales." 



4. From the Meteorological Office, London. — "Charts of Meteoro- 



logical Data for nine 10° Squares of the Atlantic, with Remarks." 



In reference to a question which had been brought forward at a late 

 meeting of the Society, namely, the alleged sanitary influence of the 

 Blue Gum tree (Eucalyptus globulus), Dr. Agnew mentioned that 

 certain experiments had been recently conducted at home by Mr. C. T. 

 Kingzett, F.C.S., etc., which might possibly assist in throwmg some 

 light on the subject. In a lecture delivered before the Society of Arts 

 in February last, Mr. Kingzett showed that the slow oxidation of 

 certain turpentines, with which the essential oil of the Blue Gum is 

 virtually identical in chemical composition, give rise to two very 

 active sanitary products ; one, the peroxide of hydrogen, well-known 

 as a most potent disinfectant ; the other camphoric acid, a powerful 

 antiseptic. Now, as the free elimination of these agents was con- 

 tinually going on wherever the Eucalyptus was cultivated it was clear 

 nothing could be more conducive to the destruction of malaria and the 

 consequent preservation of health, and hence the recognised value of this 

 tree in the malarial regions of the Campagna near Rome, and in the 

 vicinity of the Douro in Spain. It was right to add, however, that 

 during the discussion which followed the reading of Mr. Kingzett's 

 paper, a learned writer on sanitary science. Dr. Thudichum, thought 

 that the beneficial action which the Eucalyptus was sujDposed to exert, 

 was more probably due to its sucking up the superabundant moisture of 

 the ground and thus destroying malaria. 



The Rev. W. W. Spicer suggested that the tree might act as a 

 valuable sanitary agent in both ways. 



Mr. F. Abbott, F.R.A.S., read a lengthened paper on "The Modem 

 Progress of Astronomy." Being nesessarily a re^z^me the paper did not 

 invite or call for discussion. 



The Rev. W. W. Spicer, F.R.M.S., read a paper "On the occur- 

 rence of 'Ergot' on Rye-grass." 



Mr. W. E. Bayntox, of Kingston, (who furnished the specimen 

 referred to in the paper), in reply to a question stated that hitherto 

 none of his cattle had suffered from eating the diseased rye-grass, but 

 this was probably due to the fact that as yet only a very small patch of 

 the grass had become affected. 



Sir James Wilson was sure every one present would agree with him 

 in thinking that not only this Society, but many others to which we 

 have sent our Meteorological Tables, were much indebted to Mr. Abbott 

 for his unwearying attention, extending over a period of about 30 

 years, to meteorological observation. No other member, he thought, 

 had done more for the Society, and he had therefore much pleasure in 

 proposing that our best thanks were due to Mr. Abbott not only for the 

 paper on " The Modem Progress of Astronomy," which had just been 

 read, but for all his past exertions in the cause of meteorology. 



