74 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
TRANSACTIONS OP THE 
AUSTRALIAN HORTICULTURAL 
AND 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
EIGHTH MONTHLY MEETINO. 
Held in the Royal Hotel, on Tuesday 
Evening, 1st. September, 1857. 
Mr. AY. S. Wall in the Chair. 
Members of Council present:—Messrs. 
D. Me Innes, E. K. Silvester, AY. S. Wall, 
P. L. C. Shepherd, Dr. Houston, H. R. 
AVebb, and several members and their 
friends. 
The minutes of the last meeting were 
read aud confirmed. 
Mr. Theodore West read a paper on a 
singular insect production found in some 
parts of Australia. 
On a motion of adjournment having 
been negatived, it was resolved that the 
reading of 
Mr. R. Meston’s paper on the effects of 
Acrid and Poisonous Plants upon Grami- 
niverous Animals be postponed until the 
next monthly meeting. 
The following communication on the 
Bitter Aloe, received from Mr. Ransom 
Hood, was read by Mr. P. L. C. Shepherd. 
THE BITTER ALOE. 
This prolific plant is worthy of the most encouraging 
notice of the Horticnltnral Society. It is admirably 
adapted for New South Wales—will grow any where— 
and is alwavs lnxuriant in spite of soil or neglect 
When it flowers, as much as five gallons of oil may be 
extracted from one plant, and its arms or barbed leaves, 
afford at all times one of the most searching vegetable 
medicines 1 ever knew. The smallest hit of the pnre 
white pulp of the leaves will suffice to clear the com¬ 
plexion, and cool the whole system. Care muse he 
taken not to take too much. 
I wish to draw the attention of Colonists to this plant, 
and to express my firm belief that the principal ingre ¬ 
dient of Holloway's famous pills is extracted from the 
ll N.' s^Wales, 1657- RANSOM HOOD. 
The Secretary read the following letters 
from Mr. Augustus Appleford. 
To the Secretary of the Horticultural and Agrirnl- 
tural Society of New South Wales. 
Vine-hill, Camden, 
25th July, 1857- 
Sir,—Respecting the irrigation of Tineyards, or the 
inexpensive means of supplying Villages with Avater,! 
have to observe, that if there be a running stream within 
a mile or two of the vineyard or village, such may be 
easily accomplished, if a cistern or tub can only he 
placed on a conical scaffolding, high enough to elevate 
the water in it above the level of any intervening hill 
or eminence. The cistern at the top may be supplied 
Arith water hv means of tin or quart pots, fastened on a 
belt, and turned by a plain waterwheel stationed in the 
current—the belt* passing over an open pully at the 
top ; the quart pots or vessels will empty themselAes 
as they topple over into the cistern, from which a pipe, 
or gutta percha hose of any kind, will carry the water 
from the cistern to any distance, and to any given point 
of the height of the cistern, without further expense. 
I am, Sir, 
Your obedient humble servant, 
AUGUSTUS APPLEFORD. 
THICKENING OF WINE. 
To the Secretary of the Horticultural and Agricul¬ 
tural Society of New South Wales. 
Sir,—With reference to our Colonial Wine making 
allow’ me to remark, that it does not yet appear that 
any of us have discovered the exceedingly powerful and 
pernicious chemical substance noAY frequently used in 
European establishments for the sole purpose of thick¬ 
ening the wine. Of late it has been used more freely 
than in former years, and is worthy the attention of 
vour Society. 
The nature of the substance is so lasting and tena¬ 
cious, that an empty wine cask will turn water into 
starch-like thickness* months afterwards, even after it 
has been emptied and refilled with fresh wuter half a 
dozen times. That this deserves the attention of mem¬ 
bers I now respectfully submit. 
I am. Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
AUGUSTUS APPLEFORD. 
Mr. P. L. C. Shepherd exhibited a very 
beautiful cut specimen of a seedling Ca¬ 
mellia, from the seed of C. warratah, 
remarking that be desired to see more at¬ 
tention given by Nurserymen and Amateurs 
to the cultivation of this and other plants 
from seed, in order that-new varieties may 
be produced. 
Mr. Shepherd also laid upon the table 
cut specimens of Kerri a Japonica, .Mag¬ 
nolia conspicua, and some very fine Hya¬ 
cinths, which lie considered would thrive 
very well in this Colony, if properly 
treated, although it was the general opinion 
that they were not suited to our climate ; 
it was further stated, that he intended try¬ 
ing some experiments with this really 
beautiful flower; he thought that an ad¬ 
mixture of salt was required in the soil to 
perfect their culture. 
No ballot being demanded, the following 
gentlemen became members :— 
Air. G. H. Cox, Air. George AA’oods, Air. 
AYilliam AVilson, Air. AY. J. Inman, Air. T. 
G. Sawkins, Air. Smith, George-street, 
Air- Smith, Rope’s Creek, St. Mary’s. Air. 
AA r . Jagers, Air. James Thompson, ALP., 
Burrier, Shoalhaven. 
The following gentlemen were proposed 
as members:— 
Mr. J. Boucher, Bombalo, life member; 
Air. A. Davy, Harrington Park, Camden. 
The following notices of papers were 
given for next month 
Air. Robert Aleston—On the Deteriora- 
