MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
as 
parties, fully equipped, and well provisi- 
oned, start from the western boundary of 
civilization, and proceed due west, at in¬ 
tervals of one week, each following in the 
footsteps of the other. The first would 
go straight forward, would each night 
mark their resting place, and would hide 
there, in some previously concerted con¬ 
cealment, a bottle containing a record of 
their course, and the state of the party, pro¬ 
visions, &c., and such observations as to 
water, as would be useful to their succes¬ 
sors. The next party, although following 
the same direct route, should direct 
their particular attention to the country 
lying to the northward of it. They also 
should leave information to their succes¬ 
sors, who in turn would explore the country 
to the southward. These would be ready, 
in case of emergency, either to assist the 
foregoing parties, or to fall back, as they 
might be advised by the records, leaving 
depots of provisions for the pioneers should 
they wish to retreat. By this plan, the 
foremost men would always know that they 
were within seven days at least of help, 
and the rear would widen and expand the 
information which they had obtained. Of 
course this would be a very expensive 
method of exploring, but when human life 
is in danger, expense should be the last 
thing considered. 
We have observed in the local journals, 
and in a prospectus printed in London, a 
proposal for exploring the interior by 
means of balloons, under the direction of 
Mr. Charles Green and a Mr. J. J. O. Tay¬ 
lor, C. E. The idea is not a new one to 
us. Some years ago, we made the sug¬ 
gestion in one of the Sydney journals, and 
had the honour of explaining our plans in 
detail to Sir Thomas Mitchell, than whom 
no one was more competent to express an 
opinion on their feasibility. We are proud 
to say that this distinguished traveller and 
highly ingenious man considered them 
practicable, and informed us that, when in 
London some years before, he himself had 
consulted Mr. Green, the teronaut, on the 
subject. At some early day we shall re- 
eur to this method of exploration. We 
may, however, seize the opportunity of 
the mention of the late Sir Thomas Mit¬ 
chell’s name in connection with the explo¬ 
ration of this country, to urge the claims 
of his widow, who, we hear, is very inade¬ 
quately provided for, to a pension. No¬ 
thing would tend more effectually to foster 
the spirit of enterprise, in the breasts of 
brave men, than the knowledge that, even 
if their lives were sacrificed, a grateful 
country would protect and comfort those 
dependent upon them. 
THE EXHIBITION OF THE 
AUSTRALIAN HORTICULTURAL 
AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Ox Thursday, October 1st, the Spring 
Exhibition of this Society was displayed 
in the Botanic Gardens. The weather was 
beautiful, the gardens were in perfect 
I order, there was an unusual attraction in 
j the presence of the fine band of the 77th 
Regiment, that had just arrived from 
England and the Crimea, and in conse¬ 
quence there was a very large and brilliant 
assemblage of visitors. We regret to have 
to express an opinion that it was in conse¬ 
quence of these extraneous attractions 
that the attendance was numerous, and 
the exhibition was pecuniarily successful. 
Trath, however, compels us to say, that 
both in the number of specimens exhi¬ 
bited, and in their variety, these was great 
cause for disappointment. 
In our last number will be found an ad¬ 
vertisement, extending over three pages, 
enumerating the various subjects for which 
prizes (liberal prizes, too) were offered. 
A glance at the list of the prizes award¬ 
ed, which we print In another page, will 
shew how little competition was excited. 
There was no specimen of cereal produce, 
and none of those valuable products of the 
farm, such as butter, cheese, bacon, ham, 
&c., for which the colony is so largely de¬ 
pendent on the mother country. 
In the department of agricultural im¬ 
plements, for which, with wise liberality*, 
Mr. Mort has offered a prize of a valuable 
silver cup, the only specimens shewn were 
manufactured by Messrs. Chapman, bro¬ 
thers, 5IS, George-street. They consisted 
of a one-horse plough for light soils, a 
scarifier and hoe, and a double-breasted 
plough. These implements shewed that 
colonial workmanship might eoupare fa¬ 
vourably with that of England, but there 
was not sufficient novelty in the construc¬ 
tion to entitle them to a prize. M e very 
much regretted that this department had 
not attracted more attention. 
Tliere was no specimen of sugar ex¬ 
tracted from the Sorghum Saccharatum. 
This would have been an interesting exhl- 
