20 



Museum. 



In the early part of the year some cases and jars which 

 had been used at the Fisheries Exhibition in London were 

 offered to the Society on the condition in the first place 

 that certain claims upon them should be paid. Subse- 

 quently, howeyer, Government courteously waived all 

 claims on the cases, and they are now utilised in the 

 Museum. We have to acknowledge with best thanks 

 our indebtedness to Mr. E. P. Ramsay, F.R.S.E., F.L.S., 

 and the authorities of the Sydney Museum, for the very 

 great liberality they have shown in presenting to us the 

 numerous and valuable specimens, the names of which 

 appear in the list of donations. The Queensland Museum 

 is also a liberal donor. 



On the part of the public, a marked increase of interest 

 in the Museum has been shown by the unusually large 

 number of donations from divers parts of the colony. In 

 the collection special to Tasmania, the objects have been 

 re-arranged according to their natural orders, and many 

 new ones have been prepared and mounted by the Curator, 

 Mr. A. Morton, whose zeal, energy, and ability demand 

 special recognition. 



The collection is thus gradually approaching to that 

 condition, so much to be desired, in which it will fairly 

 represent the geology, the flora, and the fauna of Tasmania. 



To the donors of plants and seeds, and to the owners 

 and captains of vessels and others who have gratuitously 

 assisted in making the usual exchange, the best thanks of 

 the Society are due. 



Gaidens. 



Many of the plants suffered severely from the drought 

 during the early part of the year, and some apparently 

 acclimatised were quite destroyed. Dahlias, Asters, 

 Stocks, Phloxes, and other autumn flowering plants, either 

 did not flower at all, or did so in a very imperfect manner. 

 The want of an adequate supply of water was never 

 more severely felt. Included in the plants introduced 

 during the year are many of great interest. Seedlings 

 have been raised of the following choice coniferse : — Abies 

 ajanensis, polita, concolor, grandis, noblis, sechalinensis, 



