Abstract of Proceedings for April, 1907

The opening meeting for session 1907 of the Royal Society of Tasmania was held on April 29th. His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, president of the Society, occupied the chair.
The President made a speech about reviewing topics of scientific interest, which have deserved attention in the previous twelve months, and to inquire how far new discoveries in mechanics, engineering, and the arts, may have a special bearing on the future progress of this State.
For example, the greatest recent scientific novelty for the benefit of agriculture is the successful extraction from the air of nitrogen and nitric acid, at prices which compete, commercially, with the nitrates imported from Chile, as a basis of artificial fertilisers.
Various contries have been leaders in scientific developments throughout the past year, for example, in America, motors have been applied for logging, a precedent which might be worthy of attention in Tasmania.
Progress has been made in relation to flight, as it has become more cost-effective and will benefit those who need to travel vast distances.