218 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
PAPERS REAP. 
Mr. P. L. C. Shepherd regretted that he 
had been unable to write his promised 
paper on curious plants, his time having 
been so much occupied with the Exhibi¬ 
tion. He would, however, with the per¬ 
mission of the Chairman, read a lew 
remarks on the cultivation of the Clianthus 
Dampierii. Permission having been given, 
Mr. Shepherd proceeded to read the same. 
Mr. Graham desired to know if the 
Clianthus Dampierii would seed freely in 
this colony. In answer to which, Mr. 
Shepherd stated that the plant now grow¬ 
ing at the Darling Nursery had only as 
yet produced a few' flowers, hut that one 
pod had already set, and he had little 
doubt that more would follow'. 
Mr, Henry Way mouth read a paper on 
Bone Manure and superphosphate of lime, 
remarking that he must apologise for the 
incompleteness of his paper on account of 
shortness of time and want of books of re¬ 
ference of a recent date. 
The Chairman said that a bone mill Was 
established in this city some few' years 
back, w'hen the proprietor found it difficult 
to dispose of his manufacture. 
Mr. P. L. C. Shepherd thought the 
reason why the application of this species 
of manure did not Answer w'as probably on 
account of its being used in hot dry i 
weather. He could speak from Ids own 
observation that the roots of plants coming 
into contact with bones caused them to 
flourish admirably. 
Mr. J. Graham wished to know if the 
charcoal from sugar w r orks was a good fer¬ 
tilizer, as it can he obtained very cheap. 
Mr. P. Williams considered that it would 
be very good. 
Mr. Waymouth stated that he wanted 
bones free from animal matter for the 
manufacture of the superphosphate. 
Mr. G. A. Bell enquired how the manure 
was best applied. 
Mr. Waymouth, in answer to Mr. Bell’s 
question, said that w'here immediate results 
are required, he w'ould mix stable dung 
with the bones, or use the superphosphate. 
Mr. G. A. Bell considered that new 
bones make the best manure. 
Mr. Burnell—That confirms that annual 
fat is a good fertilizer. 
Mr. G. A. Bell thought that animal 
charcoal is nearly as powerful a stimulant 
as pigeon dung. 
Mr. P. L. C. Shepherd remarked, from 
personal observation, that on a spot of 
ground on which a beast had been burned 
the grass had grown with great luxuriance, 
while on a spot where a beast had been 
suffered to decay the grass had scarcely 
grown at all. 
Mr. G. A. Bell said that he found by 
using the refuse from boiling-down esta¬ 
blishments, the first year it destroyed the 
crops, but the second and third year the 
ground so treated would produce beautiful 
crops. 
In answ'er to a question from the Chair¬ 
man respecting the application of bone 
manure to orange trees, Mr. Bell observed 
that he had not found it prejudicial to 
them. 
Paper read from Mr. Lewis Markham 
on the origin of vegetation. 
MEMBERS CONFIRMED. 
Mr. Merrill, American Consul ; Mr. 
Motitry, Church Hill; Mr. IV. Hemming, 
Elizabeth-street. 
The Chairman mentioned that the Ex¬ 
perimental Farm and Garden Committee 
had been to view the ground at Parramatta 
which had been suggested as an eligible 
site for the proposed establishment, and 
were of opinion that a more suitable spot 
could not be chosen for the purpose. 
The next monthly meeting will be held 
on Tuesday, April 6th. 
COUNCIL MEETING. 
PURSUANT TO CIRCULAR. 
Held in the Society’s Rooms, on Tuesday, 
February 24th, 1858. 
Present:—The President, Dr. Houston, 
Messrs. M'Donell, P. L. C. Shepherd, 
Thomas Day, J. Graham, F. Creswick, G. 
A. Bell, D. M‘Innes, J. E. Blake, F. 
Mitchell, and W. Deane. Hon. Sec. 
His Excellency the President in the 
chair. 
Minutes of last meeting read and con¬ 
firmed. 
The President laid plans of the proposed 
buildings for the Experimental Farm on 
the table. 
Letters read from Mr. A. Thomson, 
Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, 
and Mr. W. M. Brownrigg two. 
The Secretary was instructed to com¬ 
municate with tlie Secretary of the Cham¬ 
ber of Commerce, and enquire if arrange¬ 
ments could be made for the use of the 
Chamber for the Society’s office. 
l Design for a medal laid upon the table 
