HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALEs. 241 
Hvidently this was considered a preliminary meeting, for 
in the issue of 8th July, 1855, we read :— 
‘*Vesterday evening the first meeting of this society was 
held at the Royal Hotel, when a large company, comprising 
many ladies, were present. The chair was taken by Mr. 
Reynolds. The Secretary read a paper sent by Mr. Mus- 
pratt, F.C.S.L,, of Irrawang, on the uses of chemistry as 
applied to the fertilisation of the soil. Mr. Jessup read a 
paper on the cultivation of orchids. Mr. Shepherd read a 
paper on the hybridisation of plants.”’ 
From the following (‘‘Sydney Herald ’”’ of 21st October, 
1855), it would appear that the shows were small agricul- 
tural exhibitions:—‘‘ The first public exhibition of the 
Horticultural Improvement Society of New South Wales 
took place on Thursday, in the Botanic Gardens. The 
exhibition was a most successful one; there could not have 
been less than 6,000 persons present. Prizes were taken 
for shrubs, flowers and vegetables by Messrs. Baptist, 
T. W. Shepherd, Guilfoyle, Saxby, M’Gill, F. C. M’Kean, 
Guildenay; fruit, N. Hill and Mrs. Preston; colonial wine, 
Mr. Muspratt of Irrawang; preserves, Mr. Walker; photo- 
graphs, Mr. Freeman; leather and saddlery, Hall and 
Alderson; agricultural implements, Messrs. Lane and 
Younger. The amount taken at the gates was about £130.”’ 
There is a full account of this show, which took place on 
the 18th October, in ‘‘ Hort. Mag.’’ vir, 140. 
The ‘‘Australian Almanac”’ for 1856 gives a list of office- 
bearers. The Honorary Secretary was William Deane, and 
the temporary office, 20 Hunter Street. 
**The objects of this Society are to promote the develop- 
ment of the resources of Australia by diffusing as widely 
as possible, scientific and practical information on the study 
and pursuit of botany, including horticulture and agricul- 
ture, by holding monthly meetings at which lectures are 
P—July 3, 1018. 
