vi Minutes of Proceedings. 
The Solar Parallax as derived from the American Photographs of © 
the Transit of Venus, 1874. 
The President exhibited a very heavy knob-kerrie, of iron wood, . 
chipped or ornamented by stone implements. This is stated to have 
been found under 7 ft. of bat guano in a cave near Montagu. It - 
belongs to the South-African Museum. 
The President then gave an account of a journey to the Eastern 
Province, where he had proceeded to investigate a disease among 
orange-trees, which, however, was not due to any insect agency. He 
at the same time ascertained the beneficial effects of a lady-bird 
beetle, Fodalia Icerye preying on the Australian bug, Icerya 
Purchasi, so destructive to the orange and lemon trees. A lady-bird 
from Australia, Vedalia cardinalis, had after great many difficulties 
been introduced into California, and had almost exterminated - 
the Australian bug there in an inconceivably short time. In the 
Eastern Province, thanks to Rodalia Iceryze, the Australian bug has 
become practically harmless. He contended that this useful auxiliary ~ 
was not a native of South Africa, but bad probably been introduced - 
here, perhaps at the same time as the bug itself. He was- 
endeavouring to breed Rodalia at StellenboscL, but this lady-bird was 
itself working its way to the Western Province. 
The President also exhibited a section of the trunk of a healthy 
orange-tree attacked by insects. Specimens of these insects were - 
exhibited. He thought they might be got rid of by fumes of sulphur... 
Prof. MacOwan gave a very interesting and exhaustive account of | 
some of the causes why orange-trees died, and suggested remedies in: 
metliods of planting and irrigation. 
Ordinary Monthly Meeting. 
WepneEspay, May 27, 1891. 
Mr. L. Pertevey, F.E.S., PResIpENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
Mr. D. Hutcheon, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, was duly elected’ 
an Ordinary Member of the Society. 
The undermentioned presents were announced and the thanks of 
the Society voted to the donors : 
Von der Capstadt ins Land der Machukulumbwe, . by Dr.- 
Holub, Vols. I. and II. 
