175 
at the Cape, Rio de Janeiro, Calcutta, Ceylon, &c., &c., more rare 
and costly plants, in exchange, than would fill five such conservatories 
as that now building in Melbourne. 
“ T should also suggest, that as most of the species are handsome, 
and many beautiful, growing trees, half an acre or so of ground be 
appropriated for a seed-bed, by which a large number of young plants 
might be raised, ready to transplant into the projected shrubberies 
round the Government House, and to distribute among such private 
individuals as may wish to possess some few examples of these abo- 
_ rigines of the vegetable world. 
“To establish these discoveries upon the most solid basis, I have 
given up nearly a month of my engagement with the Tasmanian 
Government, for, without having laboured, I may say truly, both day 
and night, for the last three months, I could not have brought the 
matter to such an unquestionable issue. Without taking too much 
credit to myself, I feel satisfied that these discoveries will be regarded 
with as much surprise and almost incredulity amongst the botanists 
of Europe, as was that of gold in Australia among the geologists of 
Britain. 
“Of all those named in the list I possess elaborate descriptions, 
partly written with the trees before me, and finished before the cones 
had opened, and thus lost their specific characters. As there exists 
no scientific society or other medium for publishing an essay on these 
trees in Melbourne, I think the Royal Tasmanian Society (of which 1 
am an honorary member) will gladly do so in their own Transactions.” 
Proceepines oF NSocieEtTIEs, §c. 
Tue Paytotocist Crus. 
One Hundred and Fifty- Seventh Sitting. — Saturday, May 20, 
1854.— Mr. Newman, President, in the chair. 
The President read the following communications :— 
Botrychium rutaceum, Sw. 
“ At page 131 of the present volume of the ‘ Phytologist’ I am in 
effect blamed for taking no notice of B. rutaceum as a British plant. 
