BY J. H. MAIDEN, F.L.S., F.C.S., ETC. 



59 



but although this exudes naturally, the supply is stimulated 

 by incisions." Victorian Cat. Col. and Ind. Exhib., 1886.) 



"It is a transparent, colourless, or pale yellow body, 

 fragrant and friable, fusing at a moderate temperature, and 

 burning with a large, smoky flame, vei'y soluble in alcohol 

 and the essential oils, and almost totally so in ether ; turpen- 

 tine at the ordinary temperature does not act upon it, nor do 

 the drying oils, but it may be made to combine with these 

 solvents by previous fusion." {Report on Indigenous Veget. 

 Subst. Victorian Exh., 1861). 



Sample 5. Obtained from the Botanical Gardens, Sydney, 

 29th December, lS-87 ; no particulars available. 



Of a dark amber colour, and externally possessing the 

 dulled appearance found with lumps of amber. It is the 

 darkest resin examined by me. 



It almost wholly dissolves in rectified spirit, yielding a 

 bright yellow liquid, leaving 2*5 percent, of insoluble residue. 

 Petroleum spirit removes 22"8 per cent, of a clear resin when 

 the original substance is digested in it. 



Discussion. 



Me. Stephens remarked how unfortunate it was that 

 people in the colony were so little alive to their own interest. 

 The Oyster Bay Pine was useful for a variety of purposes, 

 being suitable for light hurdles, gates, and other uses for 

 which the common hardwood timber was ill adapted, while 

 the advantage gained from shelter to stock was far superior 

 to any that could result from its wholesale destruction. This 

 beautiful and useful tree had, however, been destroyed, so far 

 as it could be destroyed, by ring-barking over thousands of 

 acres on the East Coast. 



The President stated that he had had his attention 

 directed to the state of things mentioned by Mr. Stephens. 



