xxxvi Reports of Committees. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE INTRODUCTION 

 OF NEW ANIMALS AND AGRICULTURAL SEEDS. 



Your Committee has carefully considered the matter entrusted to 

 it, and has now the honom' of reporting as follows : — 



The first important step seems to consist in collecting information 

 respecting the most valuable seeds and animals to be found in other 

 countries ; it has therefore drawn up a circular embodying a number 

 of questions, which circular your Committee would recommend should 

 be submitted to His Excellency the Governor, with a request, that 

 His Excellency would be pleased to transmit the same to the Eng- 

 lish Consuls at foreign ports, and to the Ministers of foreign States, 

 with the view of obtaining full answers to the questions therein 

 embodied. 



Your Committee would further recommend that the Zoological 

 Committee, the Port Phillip Farmers' Society, the Board of Agricul- 

 ture, and all other public bodies, as well as private individuals, in- 

 terested in such matters, should be invited to co-operate with this 

 Society, in thus endeavouring to advance the best material interests 

 of this colony. 



It would also suggest that a copy of the afore-mentioned circular 

 should be forwarded to the English and the French Societies for the 

 Acclimatisation of Animals, and to all other kindred societies, solicit- 

 ing their co-operation in obtaining information. 



William Lockart MoRTOisr, Chairman. 



DRAFT OF CIRCULAR REFERRED TO. 



Sir — The Royal Society of Victoria, being anxious to obtain the 

 most authentic information respecting foreign Agricultural Seeds and 

 useful Animals, with the view of aiding in their introduction into 

 Australia, has the honor to request that you will kindly furnish it 

 with information on the following subjects, as far as convenience 

 may permit. 



1. What animals are most esteemed in your country for draught 

 or burthen? 



2. What varieties of animals are kept for the growth of wool or 

 hair 1 What is the average weight and the market value of the fleece 

 of each kind respectively 1 To what pm-pose is each material ap- 

 plied ? Is the flesh of such animals much esteemed as human food ? 

 What is the value of the skins, of each sort, and for what manu- 

 facture or other purposes are they employed ? 



3. What is the respective average weight of such animals when 

 fit for slaughter] What is the character of the pastures upon which 

 they thrive best, and are they easily kept or otherwise? 



