120 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND AHT. 
of proof would follow, and render facile the 
acquisition of those arts that administer to ! 
our daily necessities. 
We do not expect to make youths at 
once expert natural philosophers ; hut we 
would endeavour to implant in their minds 
facts they would never forget, and supply 
them with information that would impart j 
to each leaf of the forest an intelligent j 
voice—that would find “ sermons in stones, 
books in the running brooks, and good in 
everything.” 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN I 
HORTICULTURAL AND AGRICUL¬ 
TURAL SOCIETY. 
Tenth monthly meeting, Nov. 3, 1857. 
HELD IN THE ROYAL HOTEL, 
Mr. Wm. McDonell in the Chair. 
Members of Council present: Messrs. 
P. L. C. Shepherd, F. Creswick, M. Guil- i 
foyle, "VV. McDonell, O. Ottlev, J. Graham, 
G. A. Bell, Thos. Day, T. W. Shepherd, 
J. S. Wall, R. Driver, W. Carron, Dr. 
Houston, W. Deane, lion. Sec., and a very 
numerous attendance of members and their 
friends. 
The following plants and cut specimens 
of flowers were on the table, which the 
•members of Council commenced judging 
under rule 14 of the exhibition rules :— 
Collection of roses, GO varieties—exhibited by Mr. II. 
Matthews, gardner to R. Tooth, Esq., for which a silver 
medal was awarded. 
Collection of 12 roses, exhibited by Mr. H. Matthews. 
Collection of G6 varieties of roses—exhibited by 
Mr. J. Baptist, for which a bronze medal was awarded. 
Pieonia Whitlegii—bronze medal to Mr. Baptist. 
Rhododendron ponticum alba—bronze medal to Mr. 
Baptist. 
Fuchsia exquisite, Jnsticia splcndens Cambretium 
purpureum—exhibited by Mr. Baptist. 
A new IToya, exhibited by Messrs. Shepherd and Co., 
obtained a silver medal. 
A collection of roses and carnations were also'exhi¬ 
bited by the Messrs. Shepherd. 
Minutes of last meeting read and con¬ 
firmed. 
The following letter was read from Mr. 
James King, Irrawang :— 
London, 20th Dec., 1856. 
Sir,.—Last Spring I visited Italy, and was some time 
in Florence, where I procured a specimen of the seed 
which produces the grass or straw, from which the 
people there make hats, caps, and bonnets, and well 
known to be shipped as Leghorn. 
In order that these light durable articles of dress may 
be made in your colony, if not for sale, at least for domestic 
use all over the country, I send yon a package of the 
seed, which your Society will please to accept, and no 
doubt, take the best means of getting it distributed and 
propagated ; along with which I also send you a copy of 
directions procured in Italy, at the same time, for "the 
cultivation of the grass and the preservation of the 
straw. 
The locality of the ground is to be hilly, in pre¬ 
ference to low ground ,* and if it be whore there has 
been a wood, it would he preferable. 
The seed is sown in the ground from the 15th of Nor- 
ember to the end of December, that is if the situation is 
a cold one in November, if warm in December. 
The soil is to be worked, but not very deep, and to 
Tegulate that, in the space where one bushel of wheat is 
sown, you require three bushels of tho straw seed. 
V\ hen the straw is half ripe, it is polled up and tied 
in small bundles and left to dry in the sun' and when 
it is well dried it is staked up. ’in July or August the 
bundles aro to be opened like fans and exposed to the 
dew of the nighty until it becomes perfectly white, 
taking rare that it lias no rain, which would spoil it. 
W hen this is done it is stacked up again and then 
pulled for use. 
I intended at this time to have taken out and dis¬ 
tributed the seed from Sydney to the other Australian 
Colonics, but as it is now very uncertain when I mar 
be enabled to do so, without any delay, I forward it 
from this, where I shall be happy to learn of its recep¬ 
tion, &c., Address, care of Messrs. W. and K. 
Chambers, Paternoster Dow, London. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Tour most obedient Servant, 
The Honorary Secretary. JAMES KING. 
I was a resident at Irrawang, Hunter’s River, N. S. 
W., for 30 years. 
Sample of the wheat referred to laid upon the table. 
Mr. F. Creswick read a paper on the 
Leghorn grass. 
The following letter was read from Mr. 
Thomas Ascott 
is ns Dane water, t/ct. 20th, looi • 
Sir—I herewith beg leave to send a specimen of cl a v 
found in thk district, variously but rudely prepared, 
which from its qualities may possible engage atten¬ 
tion. Independently of its) apparent applicability for 
the manufacture of earthenware, I suspect it may prove 
to be fire clay, in which case it would at once become 
of value.. I annex a description of tho manner in 
which the several specimens have been treated. 
I am Sir, 
Your very humble servant, 
^ THOMAS ASCOTT. 
The Secretary of the 
Horticultural Society, Sydney. 
Explanation of the several samples of clay referred 
to in the within letter by 
No. 1—Tn its natural state. 
2— Ditto burnt for 2 hours in an open house fire. 
3— Worked and dried. 
4— Ditto burnt as above. 
5— Washed day. 
6— Ditto burnt as above. 
The above samples were laid upon the table. 
Mr. Robert Meston, of New England, 
read a paper on the effects of Acrid and 
Poisonous Plants upon Graminiverous 
Animals. 
Mr. Meston laid two packages of grass 
seed upon the table, observing, that he be¬ 
lieved they would be found to produce 
excellent pasturage, and would suggest 
that the Messrs. Shepherd should be ap¬ 
pointed seedsmen to the Society, and that 
any seeds forwarded should be handed over 
to them lor experiment and report; this 
was a practice followed by many kindred 
societies in Great Britain. 
