32 ANNIVERSARY ADD K ESS. 



satisfactory progress has been made in the study of our flora, 

 partly by the meritorious exertions of individuals and partly by 

 the combined efforts of Societies. For more than forty years the 

 eminent botanist of Victoria Baron Ferd. von Miiller, k.c.m.g., 

 m. and Ph.D., F.E.S., &c., has devoted his energies to the discovery and 

 description of new plants, and the publication of works calculated 

 to make known the resources of our vegetation. His systematic 

 census of Australian plants is the crowning part of his labours. 

 From it we find that the species of known Australian plants 

 amount to-day to nearly 9,000, of which 3,251 species or over 36 

 per cent, of the Australian flora are indigenous in this Colony. 

 Of botanical works, either published during last year, or in manu- 

 script may be mentioned :- — "The Flora of JSTew South Wales," by 

 Mr. Charles Moore, f.l.s., Director of the Botanical Gardens — a 

 great desideratum for this Colony ready for publication. Mr. 

 Moore has also directed attention to some new species of ferns 

 and also to economic plants useful for their fibre. Mr. J. H. 

 Maiden, f.l.s., f.c.s,, Curator of the Technological Museum has 

 published through the Department of Public Instruction, a most 

 useful pamphlet on "Wattles and Wattle Barks," with a view to 

 the cultivation of such species as may be of commercial value — 

 a subject of deep interest to this Colony. 



An important work by Baron Ferd. von Mueller, has lately been 

 published in Victoria, under the title "Iconography of Australian 

 Salsolaceous Plants." Treating as it does, on the Salt-bush plants 

 of Australia, it is a subject not merely of scientific interest, but is 

 of special importance to the pastoralist. 



Mr. F. Turner, f.r.,h.s., of the Agricultural Department has 

 published in the Agricultural Gazette of Neiu South Wales an 

 interesting paper on Forage Plants and an elaborate Census of the 

 Grasses of New South Wales, together with a popular description 

 of each species. Other works of a botanical character in course 

 of preparation I understand to be : (1) An additional number of 

 Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids, in which he describes 

 and figures a genus new to science. (2) The first number of "The 



