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co-operate with the Stock Department and with stock-owners in Canada, it is only a 
matter of time when, in various ways, they can co-operate with our New South Wales 
Stock Department and Forestry Commission. 
The phenological observations for the whole of Canada are tabulated and published 
in the annual report of the Botanical Club of Canada (included in the Transactions of 
the Royal Society of Canada). 
Value to the Meteorologist. 
It is for a meteorologist to dwell upon the importance of these observations 
to meteorology. They have been proved to be most useful in a country like Britain, 
and I believe they will be found to be much more important in Australia. An annual 
report of phenological observations has appeared for many years past in the Quarterly 
Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society of London. Instructions to the observers 
who supply the observational material for the report are contained in " Hints to Meteor- 
ological Observers," a book of instructions issued by the Society. The reports give 
for different districts in the British Isles the date of first flowering of thirteen uncultivated 
plants. The Society also records observations in regard to animal life. 
The late Mr. E. Mawley, who managed this branch of the Society's work, pointed 
out that it is preferable to have a small number of plants for observation and a large 
number of observers than a large number of plants and, in consequence, a small number 
of observers. A most important matter is uniformity of observation. " The same 
individual trees and shrubs must be observed every year, and, in the case of herbaceous 
plants, those growing in the same spots." Comparable observations and those only are 
of any value. 
In considering the British practice to select few plants for observation, and the 
Canadian one of a comparatively large number, it is probable that the Canadian example 
will be followed in Australia, inasmuch as by this means, in addition- to obtaining 
meteorological data, we are widely diffusing nature study in a pleasant and practical 
form, and, like M. Jourdain in " Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme," our citizens, and 
particularly our young, impressionable ones, are imbibing scientific methods without 
knowing it. 
The work of the first appearances of various birds, insects, &c., can well engage 
the attention of individual naturalists and naturalists' associations throughout 
Australia, but I naturally give most attention to plants. 
I think the work for this continent can only be properly carried out by the 
Commonwealth Meteorologist, who has Australia studded with observers, and who 
has the machinery for systematically tabulating results. His local officers in the various 
States could be put in touch with the Government Botanists in order that the plants 
referred to may be accurately determined, without which the observations would be 
valueless. The Meteorologist would obtain valuable data, and the various State 
Botanists would obtain plants from practically all over their respective States. Thus, 
science would receive an impetus in two directions. 
