189 
microscope work. The papers only deal with clovers, &c., and garden shrubs, i.e., 
they do not take cognizance of trees. 
Then we have a short paper on the " Pollen Grains of Families Epacridacese, 
Proteacsse, and Myrtacese," by Agnes Brewster, Aust. Nat., iii, 194 (July, 1917). 
The pollen grains of Proteacese are very typical of the order. The grains have usually a distinct 
triangular form, more or less bulged, to look like little pincushions. At each of the three angles are distinct 
caps of thin-walled tissue, forming" corner caps " for the exit of the pollen-tube from one of these. 
In the Myrtacese the grains are again triangular, but with a marked difference (in most cases) from 
those of the Proteacese. The Myrtaceous grain, when dry, has either a general smooth outline with no 
corner-caps showing, or else a sunken dark central triangle, which disappears slowly when the grains are 
placed in water, the central triangle being a fold in the wall of the grain, and it spreads out as the water is 
absorbed. Then can be seen three bands meeting at the centre of the pollen grain, and one running but 
to each angle. This is seen in Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Callistemon, Leptospermum, and many others. 
The corner-cap also differs from the Proteaceous grain in having a button-like cap, and the edges of the 
extine (outer hard coat of the grain) curved inwards. 
VICTORIA. 
The following notes are taken from " Bee-keeping in Victoria," by F. R. Beuhne, 
in the Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, from October, 1914, to April, 1916 : 
1. E. hemiphloia (Grey Box). 
Bees usually gather great quantities of pollen from Grey Box, which often is 
the only available source at the end of the honey season. 
2. E. hemiphloia var. albens (White Box). 
As it precedes the Grey Box by about a month, it is very valuable to the bee- 
keeper in providing a pollen supply to get the colonies into good working condition for 
the Grey Box bloom, as there is often a dearth of pollen just before. To the best of the 
writer's knowledge this tree does not occur anywhere in very large numbers, and is, 
therefore, valuable more as a pollen yielder than a nectar secretor. 
3. E. leucoxylon (Yellow, Gum). 
No pollen is gathered from it by bees. 
4. E. melliodora (Yellow Box). 
So far as is known, bees do not collect pollen from Yellow Box blossom. Pollen 
which> by some apiarists, was credited to this source was by means of the microscope 
proved of different origin (Wattle or Grass tree). Where pollen-yielding plants are 
absent during the Yellow Box honey flow, the worker force of the colonies of bees 
generally diminishes owing to restricted reproduction, and queen bees raised during 
this period are of little value. 
5. E. polyanthemos (Red Box). 
The blossom does not yield pollen to bees in quantities worthy of consideration. 
