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Abstract

The monthly meeting of the Royal Society was held on Tuesday,
November 14. An apology for absence, caused by a previous engagement,
was read from His Excellency Lord Gormanston. Sir Lambert
Dobson was voted to the chair.

"Further notes on coniferae planting in Tasmania, by Mr. T. Stephens,
M.A., F.G.S." The paper dealt historically with previous attempts
that had been made, in some cases with great, and in others with
moderate, success, to plant coniferae in the colony. As the result of some
planting experiments by the late Mr. Joseph Archer at Panshanger, in
1821, four firs grown from seed now remained, the largest being lift.
2in. in girth, and the others 10ft. 7in., 9ft. l0in., and 9ft. 4in., with
heights of from 70ft. to 80ft. Four other old fir trees from the first
sowing were cut down 30 years since, and the boards in a room floored
with them were as sound as the day when they were put down. The
Pinus insignis was the most rapid growing tree. One planted about 25
years was 13ft. in girth and another 10ft. The largest was in sandy
loam, and the other in gravelly soil. Amongst those who did much to
encourage the planting of foreign trees in the early days were the late
Mr. James Denton Toosey, Mr. William Gibson, of Scone, the late
Mr. George Meredith, and particulars were given of many of the trees
they planted. Mr. Stephens feared that the industry was one to be
left to private enterprise, for it would be idle at present to ask the
Government to renew the attempt to establish a department of forestry.
Something might, however, be done to protect the more valuable
indigenous trees from premature destruction, and encouragement might
be given to the cultivation of useful timber trees by leasing suitable
tracts of the waste lands of the Crown at a peppercorn rent, on the sole
condition that they should be occupied and used only for that special
purpose.
Mr. J. B. Walker read some "Further Notes on Norfolk Island,"
sketching the history of the failure and abandonment of the island as a
penal settlement, and the transportation of the inhabitants to Tasmania.
The Secretary (Mr. A. Morton) drew attention to the large and
valuable collection of mammals and birds received from the Royal
Museum at Florence, and mentioned that Professor Giglioli, who sent
them, had some 30 years ago written a book on the Tasmanians, and
although he now had but one copy he was determined to procure
another and present it to the Royal Society.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Royal Society of Tasmania
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, Van Diemens Land, VDL, Hobart Town, natural sciences, proceedings, records
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.
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