54 A USTRALASIAN NOTES. [May 



any one of them to build a house and fence in a selection." He 

 Lelield for miles on every side the beautiful dark-green leaves of 

 beech and blackwood trees, with their well-shaped umbrageous 

 tops, with here and there a stately gum towering as monarchs 

 above all. There has been a rush of selectors to the spot, who, 

 except for Government interference, may soon make an end of all this. 



In a lengthened description in the Leader of ^jc^zYc agriculture on 

 the river Loddon, in which the trees chiefly grown are the almond, 

 pear, plum, cherry, apricot, and grape, the preference is given to 

 the first. The hedges of these almond trees yield nuts of the 

 soft-shelled kind when about four years old. One shilling per 

 tree per annum is estimated as a moderate minimum of their value ; 

 an excellent hedge is at the same time secured, which requires 

 no cultural attention. The peach, on the other hand, does not do well. 



It appears that apple-growing may soon be overdone in Victoria. 

 In Gippslaud and other districts, large areas have been planted 

 within the last four years ; and unless fruit-preserving come 

 extensively into vogue, the supply will exceed the demand. The 

 neighbouring colonies are much better adapted for growing the 

 dearer marketable varieties. Thus Tasmanian growers now get 10s. 

 the bushel for crabs, and much more for nonpareils ; while Victorian 

 orchardists have to sell the bulk of their produce at 4s. or 5 s. per 

 bushel, notwithstanding the protective duty of Is. per bushel. 



From the Otago Witness, we learn that blue gum was introduced 

 into the colony by the late Mr. George Matthews more than thirty 

 years ago, and planted somewhat extensively by Mr. Macandrew a 

 few years later. There still exists a strong and unfounded prejudice 

 against the eucalypts. An aphis similar to that which affects 

 cabbage and turnips appears on the gum tree at the early stages 

 of its growth ; therefore some colonists hastily concluded the 

 turnip blight was introduced through it. And again, it has been 

 said no other plant will- thrive in its vicinity. But this may be 

 urged with more or less reason of all forest trees. It is not 

 adapted for planting round gardens, and if planted close to houses, 

 its leaves may be blown into the water-runs on the roof so as 

 to choke them. But it is, nevertheless, a most valuable tree, and 

 has taken kindly to the climate of Otago. Gum seed sown in 

 1866 almost at sea-level, and on moist soil, has now produced trees 

 girthing at base from 4 to 5 feet, with straight balls up to 30 feet. 



The Aucldand Herald puts in the resthetic plea for Government 

 Forest conservancy of such gigantic specimens of the kauri as 

 adorn the province. Tourists are beginning to frequent North New 

 Zealand ; and for their sakes alone the old monarchs of the forest 

 should be conserved. 



