BY THE EEV. DE. "WOOLLS, D.D., F.L.S., ETC. 289 



Althougli the Colony of New South Wales has been established 

 ninety two years, it is only since the publication of the Baron's 

 Eucalyptogra^pliia, that some of the commonest species have been 

 identified, and referred to their proper places in the systematic 

 arrangement. The descriptions in the third volume of the Flora 

 Aiistraliensis, founded on specimens forwarded to Europe from 

 time to time since the establishment of the Colony, afford indeed 

 a most valuable basis for the study of the genus, and the greatest 

 credit is due to Mr. Gr. Bentham, C.M.G-., for the manner in 

 which he has thrown together the researches of all previous 

 writers on our Eucalypts. That eminent Botanist, however, 

 notwithstanding all the information which he was enabled to 

 collect, had many difficulties to contend with, for, not having the 

 advantage of seeing the trees in their native forests, or having 

 any means of distinguishing the species, excepting from the dry 

 material before him and the imperfect notes of collectors, " he 

 was compelled," he tells us, "to establish groups upon such 

 characters as appeared to him the most constant among those 

 which were supplied by the specimens." The labours of Mr. 

 Bentham in thus dealing with some 135 species are beyond all 

 praise, and whether the artificial mode of classification which he 

 elaborated be ultimately adopted or not, we cannot but admire 

 the patient investigation and powers of organization which he 

 has exhibited. "With that candour, however, which characterises 

 great minds, Mr. Bentham acknowledged his inability to devise 

 any system of classification which is not liable to objection ; and 

 therefore, whilst regarding the series, suggested by himself, as 

 simply provisional, he expresses a hope, that Baron Mueller may 

 be able to give to the Scientific world " a truly natural arrange- 

 ment founded upon the proposed cortical or any other system, 

 which experience may induce him to adopt." In the work now 

 in course of publication, the Baron is simply figuring and 

 describing species, and collecting all such information respecting 

 them, as may be useful in a scientific or industrial point of view ; 



