president’s ADDRESS — SECTION R. 
29 
of Mr. H. Gr. Smith, I have examined this manna, and find it to 
consist essentially of Mannite. # 
Eucalyptus manna has, almost from the foundation of the 
colony, proved an object of interest, and for over half a century it 
has from time to time formed the subject of chemical investigation. 
The latest and most complete research was undertaken by Dr. 
Passmore in t lie Research Laboratory of the Pharmaceutical Society 
of London, and it was published ( Pharm . Journ . [3], xxi., 717) under 
the title of “ The Carbohydrates of Manna from Eucalyptus Gunnii , 
Hook., &c.” The species from which manna is usually obtained is 
E. viminalis ; and, having compared the mannas of the two species 
very carefully, I cannot find any difference between them. I there- 
fore arrived at the conclusion that Dr. Passmore’s valuable paper 
practically settles the matter of the composition of Eucalyptus manna. 
But a modern research on the chemistry of an allied body (Lerp), 
consisting of the sugary, lace-like coverings of certain Psyllidese, is a 
desideratum. A valuable paper u On a new species of manna from 
New South Wales,” by Thomas Anderson, is to be found in The 
Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal , Part II., p, 132 (July, 1849). 
This refers to Lerp. Fliickiger has since published on the same 
subject ( Yiertelj , Wittstein, 18G8, xvii., 161); see also Fliickiger 
and Hanbury (Histoire de Drogues , ii., 59). Lerp is much more 
perishable even than manna, and the Australian chemist has therefore 
a great advantage over his European confrere in dealing with this 
substance. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the kudos pertaining to a 
thorough examination of it may fall to an Australian. In continental 
universities it is the practice to demand a thesis (embodying original 
reaseareh) before a degree is conferred. I would like to see this 
excellent practice extended, at least as far as science degrees are con- 
cerned, in Australia. If for chemical students the condition were 
imposed of making the subject of the thesis a purely Australian one, 
I think a great step would be gained in the direction of getting done 
some of the enormous quantity of work awaiting the student in the 
domain of the chemistry of our indigenous vegetation. 
Furthermore, it has rarely occurred to wealthy Australians (Sir 
Samuel Wilson and Sir W. J. Clarke, of Melbourne; the late Sir 
William Macleay, of Sydney ; and Sir Thomas Elder and Mr. Horn, 
of Adelaide, are notable exceptions) to bestow part of their wealth on 
the furtherance of scientific investigation. The encouragement of 
chemical research into the properties of our native plants is, however, 
worthy of the support of all who have the intellectual and commercial 
development of these colonies at heart ; and I have no doubt that, 
before long, the necessary funds will be forthcoming. 
FUNGI. 
It is only within recent years that serious steps have been taken 
to enumerate our Australian fungi, and the chemical work on these 
plants remains almost nil. One of the most interesting of them 
is what is known as the Native Bread or Truffle ( Polyporus 
Mylittce , C. et M. ; syn., Mylitta australis , Berk.). It is, of course, 
largely used by our aborigines for food, and, owing to its gelatinous 
appearance, it w r as supposed to possess some food value, but I have 
Proc. R.S. S.A., xvi., 3. 
