144 



ANNUAL MEETINGS 



of the higher levels, and the third to Maimum. 

 The botanical excursions from Melbourne ... in- 

 cluded one to Emerald for the fern gullies . . . 

 [and another] to inspect methods of orchard plant- 

 ing. Another party . . . was taken to Warburton 

 to inspect a characteristic " big-tree ' region and 

 study the ecology of the district. From Sydney, in 

 addition to the excursions to the Blue Mountains 

 and to the Jenolan Caves district . . . there were 

 a number of smaller informal excursions ... to 

 study the botany of the Port Jackson neigh- 

 bourhood, including the National Park. Another 

 party visited . . . the Bulli Pass and the Cataract 

 Dam, passing through interesting country and 

 a rich fern vegetation. Mr. J. H. Maiden l also 

 conducted the botanists over the Sydney Botanic 

 Gardens, and gave a special exposition of the her- 

 barium. Of special botanic interest was the excur- 

 sion from Brisbane to Nambour and the Blackall 

 Kanges showing sugar-cane cultivation and many 

 ferns, aerial orchids and other characteristic plants 

 of the upland gullies. 



' Before the regular work of the Association 

 began, several members of the Agricultural Section 

 took the opportunity of gaining some acquaintance 

 with the special conditions of farming prevailing in 

 Australia. The chief questions that occupied the 

 attention of the section both in session and out of 

 doors were dry-farming, irrigation, and the breeding 

 of cereals. In South Australia dry-farming methods 

 were receiving a searching test because of the pre- 

 vailing drought. Notwithstanding, the wheat after 

 fallow showed little signs of flagging, and impressed 

 everyone by its brilliant green colour. Visits were 



1 Government botanist and director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 



