. 246 . 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
received and published under the Transac - 
tions of the Society, and that the Secre¬ 
tary be requested to acknowledge the 
receipt of the same, and present the 
thanks of the Society to Mr. Markham, 
for his paper. 
Mr, Joseph Dyer wished to make a few 
remarks with respect to the paper now 
read, which he did not wish to go forth 
without a guard to prevent people from 
making experiments in localities where 
their exertions •would be likely to meet 
with disappointment, and that the term 
Artesian well could only be applied to 
those wells where the water flows over the 
surface like that mentioned by Mr. Mark¬ 
ham, at Grenelle, near Paris. He’(Mr. 
Dyer) also begged to differ with regard to 
the cause of the flow from Artesian wells, 
as stated by the writer of the paper, which, 
he believed, was at variance with the 
general opinion on the subject. 
Mr. E. K. Silvester stated that he 
thought the well, which was commenced 
at Darlingliurst, was stopped through the 
breaking of the rod in the aperture 
formed. 
Mr. T. W. Shepherd believed that the 
well was commenced to test the opinion 
which several persons entertained at that 
time in favor of water being found by 
boring in the vicinity of Sydney, which 
opinion differed from that of the Rev. Mr. 
Clarke. 
Mr. T. W. Shepherd read a paper in 
answer to some remarks contained in a 
paper from Mr. Robert Meston, read at the 
last meeting of the Society. 
Mr. T. W. Shepherd said that, no doubt, 
all present had heard of the Cumberland 
disease, which had been so destructive 
among cattle in many parts of the colony, 
the origin of which, as yet, had not been 
arrived at. It struck him, whilst reading 
Livingstone’s travels, that the Cumber¬ 
land disease might he attributed to an 
insect similar to that of the tsetse fly, 
mentioned by that celebrated traveller as 
committing such depredations among do¬ 
mesticated stock in Africa. The animals 
attacked in this colony with the disease, 
showing the same symptoms as those 
spoken of by Livingstone, had caused him 
(Mr. Shepherd) to mention the subject, 
with a view of the attention of others 
being called to the matter. 
exhibits. ' 
The Vice-President exhibited a Lorraine 
rose. 
Mr. Gelding, gardener to Sir Daniel 
Cooper, exhibited a collection of chrysan¬ 
themums, roses, French marigolds, and 
zinnias, for which the Council awarded a 
silver medal, together with two varieties of 
Zulu Kaffir Imphee, from seed obtained 
from the Honorable E. Deas Thomson, 
Esq., C.B. 
Mr. G. A. Bell exhibited specimens of 
California prairie grass, from seed pre¬ 
sented to the Society by his Excellency 
the Governor-General. Mr. Bell stated 
that one bundle of the grass was from seed 
saved from that which he had received 
from the Society, and the other two bundles 
showed die plant in difierent stages of 
growth, after having been cut three times, 
and that he believed it would make an 
excellent pasture grass. Mr. Bell also 
exhibited specimens of the Sorghum sac- 
chartum, which had been cut twice. 
In answer to a question from one of the 
members, Mr. Bell stated that he did not 
think the Sorghum succeeded so well 
when sown broad cast as when planted 
out; if grown in this way he thought cut¬ 
ting improved the crop. 
A new Holeus was exhibited by Mr. 
Bell, which does not produce seed. 
Mr. Gelding was of opinion that this 
plant was far richer in saccharine matter 
than either the Sorghum or Imphee; that 
cattle were very fond of it, and that it was 
propagated readily from cuttings, Sir 
Daniel Cooper having some acres of it 
under cultivation. 
Mr. Brunell remarked, with reference to 
the Zamia which was on the table, that 
starch, arrowroot, and strychnine could be 
obtained from it and plants of the same 
tribe. 
The Chairman stated that the Society’s 
Dinner would take place on Thursday, 27th 
instant. 
MEMBER. CONFIRMED. 
Mr. Thomas Rostron, Waterloo Estate. 
The next monthly meeting will be held 
on Tuesday, June 1. 
COUNCIL MEETING. 
PURSUANT TO CIRCULAR. 
Held in the Society’s Rooms, Tuesday, 
April 27, 1858. 
Present:—The President ; Messrs. F. 
Creswick, J. Graham, M'Donell, Ottley, 
R. Driver, G. A. Bell, D. MTnnes, W. 
Carron ; Dr. Houston. 
His Excellency the Governor-General, 
President, in the chair. 
