PROCEEDINGS, AUGUST. xix 
doing I shall be promoting the best interests of this country and the 
happiness of its inhabitants. (Applause.) I have only further to say 
that I feel deeply thankful for your kind reference to Lady Garmanston, 
and I regret that she is not present here, and to myself and family. 
(Applause. ) 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Apologies for absence were received from the following members of 
the Council :—Hon. N. J. Brown, M.H.A.; Colonel W. V. Legge, B.A.; 
and Mr. J. B. Walker. 
PROPOSED CONIFER PLANTATIONS, 
The following notes were read on the proposed planting of coniferz 
in Tasmania :— 
By Baron Ferp. Von MUELLER, F.R.S., K.C.M.G.:—‘* With much 
pleasure, dear Mr. Morton, I respond to the request of the Royal Society 
of Tasmania, as moved by your distinguished Fellow, Mr. R. M. 
Johnston, and supported by the Hon. N. J. Brown, that I should, along 
with our able friend, Mr. Abbott, give my opinion on the advisability of 
growing the Pinus silvestris on a commercial and industrial scale in Tas- 
mauia, Your island is undoubtedly particularly well fitted on account 
of its generally cool climate for the rearing of this pine, as compared to 
most other regions of Australia. Moreover, in your lowlands the growth 
will be of more celerity than in Britain, and the same remark applies, 
of course, to the larch and other trees mentioned at the F oyal Society’s 
last meeting. But, as besides the red deal, also the timber of the European 
white deal (from Pinus pirla) is much imported here, that species, as 
well as the leading lumber pines of North America, woula deserve 
attention for forestral purposes in Tasmania also, thus particularly 
Pinus strobus, P. douglasii, P. lamber tiana; nor should the vast 
timber pines of the Himalayas be lost sight of, such for instance as the 
Pinus deodara and P. excelsa. Several other species of prominent 
timber value are mentioned in my work on ‘ Select plants for industrial 
culture and naturalisation, with notes as to their respective properties,’ 
Pinus insignis has never been recommended by me for any value for its 
wood,/but in wild climes is unsurpassed for its quickness of growth, 
it towering now in Melbourne already over high buildings, after I 
reared this splendid pine first of all in Australia for extensive distribu- 
tion already in the fiftieth year of this century, its importance for 
shelter and sanitary purposes having since then also been recognised. 
When pine plantations are to be formed for future profitable timber 
fields, several considerations press on attention at the outset. 1. To 
adopt precautionary arrangements for the safety of the trees against 
bush fires, therefore localities not too dry but intersected also by water- 
courses. 2. To choose only land which by inaccessibility or sterility 
cannot become readily arable. 3. To have the means of removing the 
timber finally at easy carriage, which may he partly by floating the 
wood down streams. In a discourse which I delivered 25 years ago on 
‘Forest culture in relation to industrial pursuits’ (of which I send you 
already a Californian reprint), I have alluded to many other subjects 
concerning intended tree plantations for timber, so that I here now 
perhaps only need add the suggestions, that official applications be made 
to the Governments of Canada and British India for adequate supplies 
of pine seeds of the requisite kinds. The extreme scantiness of coni- 
feraceans in the native vegetation of Australia renders also the New 
Zealand kauri all the more eligible from their respective territories.” 
By Mr. F. Apzotrt :—“‘I entertain no doubt but that favourable sites 
exist in the colony suitable for the extended cultivation or growth of the 
