176 Brisbane-Sydney though attention now being turned to S.E. Asia. Original research has upset the belief that temperate climate legumes are the only efficient nitrogen-fixers. A difficulty in pastures genetics is that most of the best tropical and subtropical grasses known are apomictic; gamma radiation being tried in effort to induce mutants. Current nutrition work chiefly in phosphorus uptake (Colin Andrew); radio isotope tracer techniques being used in study of Ion uptake and distribution. In legume bacteriology it has been found (Morris) that magnesium, not calcium, as formerly believed, is the essential element for Rhizobium growth. Davies plainly a top-notch man with a high grade team. He has seen the warm climate pastures research in Florida and considers Australia well ahead of it. Len Webb (formerly in phytochemistry) has been on forest ecology for several years. Has recently published (Journ. of Ecology) a physiognomic classification of Australian (or Queensland ?) forest communities and is now preparing a paper on the floristic aspects. Has special interest in relationships of the Australian, Malaysian and Subantarctic elements of the flora, also edaphic factors, and relationships between closed forest and open forest. Setting out for Britain and Europe next month, and will also visit eastern Brazil for field studies. Is assisted by Geoff.... They are in Plant Industry Division of C.S.I.R.O. Have no clear idea of what Webb has achieved in his classification. He says he has been a bit heretical. Is starting for quick reference purposes a "miniherb" of mounted botanical fragments; the specimens I saw were without authorities for the names and without field notes. Depending very largely on Queensland Herbarium (Blake & Smith) for identifications. Davies spoke of C.S.I.R.O. need for an experienced systematic botanist. They have only Nancy Burbridge, working largely on grasses in Canberra. Tried to get Blake, but he preferred to stay at Herb. Qld. C.S.I.R.O. asking too much of Herb. Qld. in plant identification. Wednesday, January 13. Visited Qld. Herbarium in morning. Was glad to see that, however belatedly, a new start has been made on identification of our Cape York plants of 1948. Blake in a day or two will complete a list of the 1953 New Guinea sedges. Lee Pedley, a junior who has already begun revisional work on Australian Acacias (over 600 species), is on the Cape York species. Left Brisbane at 5:25 on TAA Super-Viscount turboprop plane and arrived Sydney 7:10 p.m. Flight of 480 miles. Was 50 minutes getting from airport to hotel. Expected to stay at the Wentworth, but no room there so went to the Australia. Thursday, January 14. Morning at Australian Museum; had Basil Marlow to lunch at hotel; at Botanic Gardens in afternoon. Met at Museum J.W. Evans (new director), Gilbert Whittey (fishes), Harold Cogger (herps), Mary Davies (librarian), John Beeman (display). Davies an entomologist specializing in Homoptera; strong interest in zoogeography; New Guinea insects predominantly Indo-Malaysian in origin; southern land areas probably had direct continuity with each other as late as late Mesozoic. Good start and progress has been made in modernizing the exhibition halls and making them more attractive. Darwinian centenary has been a boosting factor. Concentration is on what might be called small temporary displays featuring action and color. These so far in invertebrates (very good long panel on evolution) and anthropology. Old bird and mammal dioramas poorly done and very badly lighted. A new mammal group (wombats) not much better.