728 FKUCTIFICATION OF THE BUITSA, 



The consequence was that the nuts became fertile, and at 

 Annandale it was found that the young plants came up as freely 

 as the barley among which they fell, and produced a crop much 

 more profitable to Capt. Johnstone. 



At that time there were few if any well grown plants of A. 

 Bidwilli (Bunya) in the Colony, and in 1857 I planted at 

 Ecclesbourne, Double Bay, a specimen which had been raised in 

 a pot and must then have been a few years old, and which is 

 consequently now about 30 years of age and about 40 feet in 

 height. This and other specimens subsequently planted have 

 produced female cones abundantly, but after examining hundreds 

 of the nuts I have succeeded in finding only about half a dozen 

 fertile ones. 



The planting of the first fertile nuts found was unfortunately 

 delayed rather too long and therefore produced no result, but the 

 three found last year were planted immediately and produced 

 roots within a few days. Their subsequent progress was at first 

 quite satisfactory, but through the neglect of a gardener the 

 plants have now probably perished. 



There can be little doubt that the fertility of the few good nuts 

 found was produced by the pollen from either A. excelsa or A. 

 Cunninghami, for it is certain that A. Bidwilli had not then 

 produced male cones. 



At Camden Park there may be seen a large tree which was 

 grown from a nut produced on the spot, and sujtposed to have 

 been fertilized by A. Braziliensis. There is certainly a difference 

 ^between it and the mother plant standing close by. 



The fact which I now wish particularly to bring before the 

 Society is that the tree first planted by me has this year for the 

 first time borne numerous male cones, which will probably enable 

 us to produce young plants freely and so greatly diminish the 

 risk of the extinction of a tree which is fairly considered to be 

 one of the most beautiful in the world. 



