30 
president’s ADDRESS — SECTION B. 
shown* that this is founded on a misapprehension, as it consists of a 
form of cellulose, most probably f ungin. It would also be interesting 
to know the composition of Jlirneola , so largely exported to China for 
use in soups under the name of “ fungus.” A chemist desirous of 
undertaking a research might turn his attention to Gyttaria and many 
others of our interesting fungi. 
alga:. 
Apart from the purely scientific aspect of the question, when we 
recollect how in various parts of the world seaweeds are largely used 
for fertilising the soil and also for human food, it is perhaps an over- 
sight that none of our seaweeds have been analysed by the chemist. 
Some of our alga? might reasonably be expected to form efficient sub- 
stitutes for Iceland and Irish moss. One of them (a variety of the 
cosmopolitan Gracillaria confer voider , Gtgv.) has been so used in 
Tasmania for many years, and 1 found it to contain pararabin. 
Keports have from time to time been made in regard to cattle 
alleged to have been poisoned by drinking water charged with poisonous 
algae at Lake Alexandrina, South Australia. The late Mr. F. 8. 
Crawford states the case in the Garden and Field (Adelaide), 
November. 1889, p. 02, and it may be the work of the chemist to 
endeavour to clear up the matter. 
GRASSES. 
Very few analyses have been made of our indigenous grasses, but 
it is very desirable that a comprehensive investigation of them should 
be carried out. To do the work properly we require specimens of the 
same species collected in different parts of Australia, in different 
seasons, and in different stages of growth. In order to secure strictly 
comparable results it would be desirable to set apart one chemist, 
whose attention should not be distracted with any other kind of work. 
He could do the work with reasonable thoroughness in three years, 
and his researches would settle the comparative value of many of our 
esteemed indigenous grasses, and also give us specific information in 
regard to the value of some grasses in respect to which we only 
possess vague information. If, in addition, we could obtain analyses 
of introduced grasses grown in the colonies, the results would be of 
enhanced value. 
SALT BUSHES AND OTHER FODDER-PLANTS. 
The valuable fodder-plants known as salt bushes (Chenopodiacea?) 
form a well-defined group which should be uniformly dealt with by a 
chemist, as suggested in the case of grasses. Mr. A V. A. Dixon has 
given analyses of a few,t hut the time has arrived for a more compre- 
hensive research. It would also he desirable to systematically 
undertake the analysis of some of the numerous indigenous shrubs 
which, through choice or necessity, form part of the food of the flocks 
and herds of Australia. 
An alkaloid (Chcnopodiue), crystallising in microscopic crystals, 
and possessing a noxious odour, has been found by Keinsch J in Chenopo- 
dium album, Linn. It might he looked for in our indigenous species. 
* Agric. Gazette N.S.W., iv., 910 (1893). + Proc. R.S. N.S.W., xiv., 133. 
t N. Jahrb. Pharm., xx., 2G8, and xxvii., 193. 
