EDITORIAL. 
It is somewhat remarkable that the first gift of books to the Library 
of the Institute should have been made from England and not by an 
Australian. Mr. T. B. Lightfoot, London, has presented a number of 
volumes to the Institute, including a series of bound numbers ot Nature. 
Another gift to the Institute’s Library has been made by the Trustees 
of the Victorian Public Library, who have presented a large number of 
duplicate scientific bulletins. 
The President of the British Board of Agriculture has appointed 
a departmental committee to arrange for the testing, adaptation, and 
improvement of machines likely to prove of value to agriculture, to 
examine inventions and new devices, and to advise as to the further 
steps which should be taken to promote the development of agricultural 
machinery. 
Consideration is being given to the practicability of erecting a 
co-operative distillery in a Victorian potato-growing district, with the 
view of converting surplus potatoes into power alcohol. The matter 
is in good hands. 
. 
An Imperial Entomological Conference will be held at London at 
an early date, and the Institute ‘has been asked to select a Common- 
wealth representative. 
The question of the continuation of the subsidy of £500 per annum 
which the Commonwealth Government contributes to the International 
Institute of Agriculture at Rome has been referred to the Institute, 
which has strongly recommended that the grant be continued. 
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