320 Proceedings, &c., 1867. | 
Mr. Alfred Hill was duly proposed and seconded as an ordinary 
member, ballot to be taken at next meeting. 
The Rev. Dr. Bleasdale read a paper, “On Colonial Wines.” In 
answer to several questions, Dr. Bleasdale stated that he was unable 
to assign a cause for the acidity to which white wine was liable. It 
was very difficult to decide on a cause of ropiness, but perhaps a great 
deal was owing to the absence of good wine makers. There were 
Swiss, German, and a few French vignerons in the colony, but not from 
first-class wine districts. There existed also a prejudice against using 
strong spirits, however small in quantity, to the must. The effect of 
the spirit was to coagulate the albumen and preserve the nitrogeneous 
matter. In countries where grapes ripen late, it might not be 
necessary to use spirits, but in hot countries fermentation went on so 
rapidly that some amount of spirits was necessary. If there was an 
excess of sugar over albumen, a sweet wine was made. If the 
albumen is in excess, a dry wine is produced. Hence arose the 
practice of putting in 4 or | percent. of strong spirits. In Germany 
no spirit was used. The German practice was observed here, and 
probably the bad wine about, might be ascribed to that cause. 
Mr. Aplin called attention to Dr. Bleasdale’s statement, that the 
red wines of Camden were good, while the Cawarra was not so 
palatable ; could this arise from any variation of soil ? 
Mr. Crooke advocated the mixing of colonial wine with an equal 
quantity of water, by which the hardness often felt was removed. 
Dr. Bleasdale entered into some description of how wine was 
tortured, and stated that he found the Reisling grape of a most 
adaptable character. On the Murray and about Sandhurst a good 
Reisling was grown, from which old Portuguese wine-drinkers would 
admit a good Bucellas could be made. ; 
Dr. Mueller then read a paper “‘On New Coleoptera,” by Count 
de Castelnau, and called the attention of the Society to the way in 
which the researches of the Count could be assisted, eulogizing 
Dr. Howitt for his exertions in the science of entomology. 
(Signed) Rost. L. J. ELLery. 
11th June, 1867. 
ORDINARY MEETING. 
Monday, 10th June, 1867. 
The President, R. L. J. Ellery, Esq., in the chair. 
The gentleman duly nominated at last meeting was balloted for, 
and declared duly elected. 
Proposed by Mr. H. A. Thompson, and seconded by Mr. T. rst, 
Rawlings, and carried, ‘That Mr. J. Cosmo Newbery be elected a 
member of Council, in place of Mr. T. E. Rawlinson, resigned.” 
The President announced a message from the Council, recommend- 
