118 ON THE RELATIONS- OF THE BRISBANE FLORA, 



years. In the mean time what is very important is to have a 

 good censns made at certain important stations, such as Port 

 Jackson, and at distinct points on the coast, and in the interior, 

 where marked differences might he expected. This, of course, 

 will be a work of considerable time and care, and we mnst look 

 for its accomplishment only when botany shall have become a 

 more popular study, and when the colonies can boast of a larger 

 number of scientific votaries than they now possess. We may 

 wonder, however, that Sj^dney has not had a census of its plants 

 made. But this is a desideratum which will soon, no doubt, be 

 supplied. Tasmania has recently been favored by a very 

 elaborate census from the hands of Baron von Mueller, a census 

 which, as it was made under his care, and with the benefit of 

 his vast experience and knowledge, must be ever regarded as 

 the most valuable that could be composed. Brisbane has for the 

 last few years had the advantage of a resident botanist of wide 

 experience, and whose long acquaintance with the Australian 

 and New Zealand flora, eminently qualified him as a careful 

 collector. This is our hon. member Mr. I\ M. Bailey, F.L.S., 

 who has collected in almost every part of Queensland, and 

 examined every district of the colony with the greatest 

 deliberation and care. I had the advantage of benefitting by 

 his experience in many a botanical ramble near Brisbane, and in 

 a special excursion along the northern coast within the tropics, 

 including Port Mackay, Port Denison, and Cleveland Bay. He 

 has also been employed by the Government in preparing a 

 herbarium, and consequently has had opportunities of becoming 

 thoroughly acquainted with the local flora of Brisbane. After much 

 consideration, Mr. Bailey has agreed with me that the census of 

 the flora would be about the most valuable we could select in 

 Queensland. The station is sub-tropical, and exactly intermediate 

 between the very characteristic Australian features of Port 

 Jackson and the tropical and almost Asiatic aspect of the more 

 northern portions of the colony. The radius of the district we 



