10 
Shepherd T. W.—Native Plants and the pastoral and agricultural resources 
of Australia. 
Dyer. —Extraction of the stumps of trees. 
Meston. —Muriate of Soda as a fertilizer. 
Shepherd T. W. —Native Plants and the pastoral and agricultural resources 
of Australia. 
Plaice. —On Australian Wines. 
Gelding. —Dioscorea Japonica. 
At one of the monthly meetings, the President introduced a gentleman who had 
just brought to the colony a locomotive engine, denominated “ The Megmthon,” 
constructed on the principle of “ Boydell’s Patent Endless Railway.” 1 ha wings 
ol the machine were exhibited and explained by the importer, Mr. Clark of 
Bundarra, New England. Subsequently the Council of the Society received a 
communication from the Government to the effect, that it had determined to grant 
a sum of money for the purpose of testing the capabilities of the machine, and 
requesting that the Council should suggest and inspect the trials to be carried out. 
This request was, of course, complied with, and a Committee appointed to report 
the result, which it did in effect as follows:— 
“ The trials of the Megsethon have not fulfilled the expectations formed of it, 
as a tractive engine for general purposes, either on common roads or in ordinary 
fields for the plough, in lieu of animal power. At the same time it was of opinion 
that the shoes or sleepers which constitute the endless rail, might be with advantage 
applied to the wheels of slow travelling and heavily-laden vehicles, drawn by 
animal power over uneven or soft surfaces.” 
Towards carrying out the establishment of an experimental garden or farm, the 
Council has to report that it has petitioned the Government for a grant of land, 
suitable for the purpose, as follows 
To His Excellency Sin Wili.tam Thomas Dexisos, Ivnicht Companion of the Bath, Governor-General of all Her 
Majesty's Australian Possessions, and Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Colonv of 
New South Wales. 
The Memorial of the Council of the Australian Horticultural and Agricultural Society, 
Respectfully sheweth, 
_!• That the said Society was formed and established for the purpose of Consolidating 1 two pre-existing Societies 
with similar objects in view, at a series of Meetings open to the Public, and has sincehiet with distinctive marks 
of public approval. 
. 2 - Tho fir5t rale of !>> e Society is as followsThat the objects of this Society shall be the encouragement, 
improvement, and development of Horticulture and Agriculture, and the promotion in every way of the produc¬ 
tive capabilities of the soil. • j i 
3. That the effectual carrying out of this design will he greatly promoted by the establishment of an experi¬ 
mental garden and farm, where the capability of the improvement of indigenous products, under scientific 
cultivation, may be determined, and the suitability of the varied soils and climates of this colonv, for the growth 
of exotic products bo correctly ascertained. 
4. That by the information that would he thus acquired from suggestive science, whether native or foreign, 
•which would always demand and find admission to the garden, the'resources derivable from the land of the 
Colony would probably be largely increased; the production from agricultural enterprise would he extended, and 
rendered more in accordance with the demands of consumption in the Colony, and of exportation to the mother 
country and foreign nations; and that thus not only would increased value’ be given to the soil of the Colonv, 
but its natural and material wealth would be greatly enhanced. 
5. That in order to accomplish an object so thoroughly national in its effects, it is but fair and reasonable, that 
the Society should receive, conditionally on its carrying out the objects hereinbefore stated, to tbe best of its 
means and abilities, such grant of the public lands of the Colony, on which to establish such garden and farm, as 
your Excellency may deem reasonable in extent, and convenient in regard to site. 
Tour Memorialists, therefore, respectfully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to recommend Her 
Majesty, to grant such a piece of land for the purposes herein stated, as may to vour Excellency* seem sufficient. 
And your Memorialists, &c. &c. &c. 
Dated this second day of April, A.D. 1857. 
In repty to the petition, the Council received the following letter from the 
Minister of Public Lands and Works :— 
J 
