STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 107 



Little more than two hundred years ago, Sir William Berkeley, 

 Governor of Virginia, said: "Thank God, there are no free schools 

 nor printing presses here, and I hope there will be none for an hun- 

 dred years, for learning has brought heresy and sects into the world, 

 and printing has divulged these and other libels." The ghost of Sir 

 William flits in a few remote corners of our land, but the spirit of 

 modern inquiry forbids that it shall be materialized. With conscious 

 pride the farmers and laboring men of America are building a com- 

 monwealth whose spirit shall be peace on earth and good will to 

 man; whose weapon, suffrage ; whose conservatism, education ; whose 

 objects are freedom, order, and economy within our own boundaries, 

 and an eternal brotherhood with those who are our wider neighbors. 



THE EUCALYPTUS TREE. 



[Copy of official letter.] 



Melbourne, August 24th, 1875. 



i 



Robert Beck, Esq., Secretary California State Board of Agriculture, Sac- 

 ramento. 



Sir : I have the honor to intimate that I have transmitted, by this 

 opportunity, one packet each of blue gum and red gum seed, which 

 I trust will reach you in good order. The blue gum and red gum are 

 both valuable timber trees, and delight to grow in swampy land. 

 The former is famous for possessing the property of dispersing fevers, 

 and rendering fever-stricken districts healthy. Unlike the red gum, 

 it will thrive in high-lying as well as marshy land. The red gum 

 produces a very valuable timber, which is unsurpassed for piles and 

 railway sleepers. The timber is likewise proof against the ravages of 

 the white ant. 



I shall be glad to receive, in return, any cereal and other agricult- 

 ural seeds that you may be able to send me. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



A. K. WALLIS, 

 Secretary for Agriculture. 



