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REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 193<br />

Mallotus polyadeuos, M. Ballachyi, M. repandus, M. Chinensis, M.<br />

pycHOstachys, Macaranga involucrata, Oxylobium CaUistachys, Pitheco-<br />

lobium StUherlandi, Archidendron Lucyi, Quhitiuia Fmckneri, Cidtsia<br />

viburnea, Hakea macrocaipa, Garnarvonia aralifolia, Dryandra fiori-<br />

bunda, Myrsine uchradifoUa, Bassia galaclodendron, Chrysophyllum pru-<br />

niferum, C. myrsinodendron, Ahtonia verticillosa, A. villusa, A. excelsa,<br />

Cerbera Odollam, Casiiarina Fraseriana.<br />

In the event of its proving inadvisable to devote the New Exhibi-<br />

tion building to the intended collections of a general industrial museum,<br />

it might be advisable to enlarge the Phytological Museum building in<br />

the Garden, in order that a full display of vegetable objects of indus-<br />

trial interest may be formed. The absolute want both of space and<br />

accommodation frustrated every attempt to render my establishment<br />

also useful in this direction.<br />

During the Intercolonial Eshibitioa an apt opportunity arose to re-<br />

present more fully the technological value of many native vegetable<br />

products, and for this purpose, from the ordinary resources of the<br />

establishment a laboratorv was constructed. I need not detail the<br />

experiments conducted in reference to the value and percentage of<br />

many kinds of paper material, essential oils, dye stuffs, wood vinegar,<br />

tar, wood spirits, and tannic acid, from native plants, especially trees<br />

on all of which ample information was offered in the documents con-<br />

cerning the Exhibition. These phyto-chemical observations have since<br />

been continued as far as circumstances permitted.<br />

Appended to this Report are the tables of very extensive series of<br />

analyses, conducted in detail by Mr. Chr. Hoffmann, in reference to the<br />

yield of potash in our more gregarious native trees. They show that<br />

the manufactiu'e of this alkali can be pursued here more profitably than<br />

in those countries in which the supply of original timber is far lesS ex-<br />

tensive than in Victoria. The examination into the yield of iodine<br />

and bromine in our seaweeds is commenced ; likewise, the yield of<br />

soda in one of the principal littoral plants is recorded. I have entered<br />

also on a series of toxicological researches, by which it is hoped the<br />

nature of those poison plants so injurious to stock will be fully eluci-<br />

dated.<br />

A supplementary catalogue of the library is also given; many of<br />

these works, however, had to be provided by the Director's private<br />

means.<br />

;

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