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Abstract

The monthly evening meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday, 11th
September, His Excellency the Governor in the chair.
In the absence of the author, the Secretary read the concluding portion
of "Notes on the Hobart Town Reservoir," by T. Stephens, Esq., F.G.S.
The Rev. W. W. Spicer, M.A., F.R.M.S., read a paper entitled " Notes
on the Flora of Tasmania." The author gave a most graphic and masterly
sketch of the distribution of the flora throughout the island, with descriptions
of many of its peculiar forms, and of their effect on the scenery,
contrasting them with the vegetation at home and elsewhere. The paper
throughout betrayed a perfect and practical acquaintance with all the
known flora of Tasmania, and was listened to with the greatest interest
and attention.
In reference to a subject which was brought forward at a late meeting of
the society, to wit, the difference in the time of the leafing of trees here and in
England, His Excellency mentioned he had recently noticed in the Gardens
at Government House that the Oak came into leaf earlier than the
Sycamore, whilst the reverse was the case in England.
His Excellency also presented a parcel of the pods of Prosopis juliflora
obtained from the Royal Gardens, Kew. On the parcel being opened
it was found that almost every pod had been attacked by a sort of weevil,
the vitality of the seed being probably destroyed in consequence.
After the meeting, Mr. Lewald, who has had experience in chemical
analysis under the "Adulteration of Food Commission," in England,
showed, by means of the Society's microscope, how, by polarised light,
various animal and vegetable fats may be distinguished from each other;
and how, therefore, in the case of mixture of any of these substances for
the purpose of fraud, the adulteration may be detected. The substances
subjected to the polariscope were sperm oil, paraffin, beef fat, mutton fat,
and cocoa butter.

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 and Report 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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