1 Dec., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 401 
The question may be asked—What calling do students follow alter graduating at 
the College? ‘To this, the following is the answer :—During the last four years, 50 
students have passed from 1 to 3 years at the College; 73 of these have taken up 
work in connection with subjects taught here—viz., mixed farming, 40; dairying, 14; 
horticulture, 5; grazing, 10; agriculture, 2; engineering, 2; 2 have left the State; 
and 5 are unaccounted for. So far as I can learn, the above are doing creditable 
work, either on their own land, or managing for their parents. ‘Yo further encourage 
ex-students, and to enable us to keep records of their progress and movements, I 
think it would be a good idea to offer some small prize at the Exhibition of the 
National Association for the best collection of produce grown or manufactured by 
students who had attended the College. This would be a new departure, but I think 
it would work remarkably well: 
SrupENTSs’ Lire at THe ConneeE.—During the year there has been no sickness 
further than ordinary colds and other slight ailments. ‘There are several clubs in 
existence, such as literary, tennis, football, cricket, &c. As there are several good 
musicians with us, we are well provided for in this direction. 
’ Rericious Marrers.—The churches in the neighbouring townships have regular 
attendants from the College. 
A perusal of the foregoing review of the year’s operations will, I think, fully 
justify the statement that the year’s work has been most satisfactory, and that the 
demand for information by people outside the College is rapidly increasing. 
In closing this report, I wish to bear testimony to the valuable assistance 
rendered by the officers in charge of the various works carried on, also to the visiting 
lecturers, who have materially assisted in the educational part of the indoor work. 
JOHN MAHON, Principal. 
REPORT OF THE COLONIAL BOTANIST. 
In these annual reports only a mere glance can be given of the real work of a 
botanist, as he is so constantly in request for information regarding plant-life in its 
multifarious aspects, both by correspondence and verbally. The information given, to 
be reliable, must be correct, therefore the botanist must possess a fund of knowledge 
appertaining to plant-life, and must carefully consider the subjects brought before 
him before giving the information sought. All this, it will be seen, although 
occupying much time and study, cannot be even vaguely recorded in an annual 
report. ‘lhe work, however, I am gratified to know, is acknowledged and appreciated 
by the people, and it is most encouraging to me to find that a very large number of 
pastoralists, agriculturists, horticulturists, and others having to do with vegetable 
products, so constantly apply to me for information, thus practically proving that the 
people have not lost faith n my knowledge of plants, either as to their classification, 
cultivation, properties, products, &c. The position of a Government Botanist is not, I 
fear, understood by some persons, therefore it may not be out of place to point out 
that his duties are not only confined to supplying information to persons in the 
particular State by which he is paid, but he is frequently applied to either for 
specimens or information ppg etal to the plant-life of his State or country by 
botanists and others from all parts of the globe. To comply with such requests I am 
somewhat hampered by having no regular collector attached to my office. 
T have certainly got together a fairly representative herb collection, many of the 
specimens having been collected during trips taken now and again either by myself or 
my assistant. For instance, the latter's trip taken last year with Dr. Roth, the 
Northern Protector of Aboriginals, to the Gulf country, was productive, as I 
anticipated, of a number of rare and interesting specimens, among which were some new 
to science. A large portion of the specimens has been received from correspondents 
who send them for naming, and for information regarding them, and these persons 
have at all times, at my request, forwarded more of any that I particularly wanted, 
even, at times, to the extent of the greater part of the species of their neighbourhood 
or district. By this means I have often received undescribed species and a supply for: 
exchange purposes, enabling me to build up the exotic portion of the herbarium. 
The want of cabinets, however, for holding these specimens is greatly felt. 
There have been but few additions to the botanical library, the purchases having 
been confined to the usual periodicals. A number of donations from kindred institu- 
tions have also been received. 
The Museum.of Economic Botany, for the want of cases, has not had the additions 
made to it that desired. Preparations were made for increasing the carpologicalandother 
