/ 
thus showing an amount of usefulness, scarcely, hoped for, by the most sanguine of 
its originators. The reading of these, usually led to animated conversational re¬ 
marks** and discussions on the subjects they treated of, by the members generally; 
thus makinn available the combined information on each subject afforded to the 
meeting for the study and information of every member constituting it. 
The prize of life-membership offered by the Council for the best essay on the 
most economic means of destroying or eradicating Burs and other noxious weeds, 
was awarded to Mr. Robert’ Meston of New England. This essay, together with 
the Report of the Committee appointed to decide upon the prize, has been published 
in the daily press. . in. 
During the same period, the Council caused to be distributed upwards of two 
hundred packages of the seed of the “Chinese Sugar Grass” (Sorghumsucchu- 
ratum) to as many applicants in all parts of the country, the neighbouring 
colonies included; and more would have been distributed, had not the supply 
become exhausted. It is, therefore, lair to infer that this cereal, from the culti¬ 
vation of which so much is expected by savnns, both m Europe and America, is 
now permanently introduced to the agriculture of Australia. Ihe Council 
obtained the first supply of this seed from Mr. Creswick, one of its members ; but 
this being soon exhausted, His Excellency the Governor-General furnished a 
further and larger quantity from his own garden. . 
A number of other seeds were also distributed, but need not be particularized. 
The Council meetings, held during the period mentioned, amounted to nine, and 
the Committee meetings to four. „„„„ . . , 
At a Council meeting, held on the 16th September, 18o6, a letter was received 
from His Excellency Sir W. Denison, Governor-General, &c., as follows 
Government House, September 16,1856. 
I am directe! bv His Excellency to forward to you, for tlic consideration of the Council and 
Members of the Horticultural improvement Society, the enclosed convof a res0 ' a ^ o “^ t |f r £ 
meeting of the Members of the Australasian Botanic and Horticultural Society, and to express Sir W. Denison s 
earnest’hope that the objects of the proposed conference, namely, the consolidation of the two Societies into one, 
having a broad and extensive basis, may be obtained. j . ^ ^ 
ALFRED DENISON. 
Resolved—That it be an instruction to the committee to appoint a sub-committee, to confer with the committee 
of the Horticultural Improvement Society, upon the subject of an amalgamation of the two Societies, with power 
to co-operate in the framing of a body of rales upon the basis of which such amalgamation may advantageously 
take place. 
This communication having been taken into consideration, the Council adopted 
the following resolution in reference to it:— 
“ That the Council of the Horticultural Improvement Society having received 
the communication of his Excellency the Governor-General, dated Sept. lbth, 
1856 ; and having taken the same into consideration, with the copy of the resolu¬ 
tion passed at the general meeting of the Australasian Botanic and Horticultural 
Society, resolve, that a committee, consisting of Messrs. E. K. Silvester, 1. VY. 
Shepherd, and ffm. McDonnell, be appointed to receive and Deliberate on any 
proposition that may be received from the sub-committee ol the latter society, and 
to confer with the members of the same, if such a course should seem desirable. 
It was also resolved— 
“ That this resolution be forwarded to his Excellency the Governor-General, 
with an expression of the cordial concurrence of the council, in the wish of his 
Excellency, that the proposed conference may lead to the consolidation of the 
two Societies into one, having a broad and extended basis for its future 
operations.” 
