340 Professor Henry E. Armstrong [Feb. 19, 



12*2 bushels per acre; it is expected that in 10 to 15 years the 

 50 million bushel mark will be reached. 



Most of us, however, would rather speak of the natural vegetation, 

 which is totally unUke anything known to us here in appearance— 

 extraordinary in its variety as well as in the character of the foliage, 

 which has obviously been evolved to withstand long periods of 

 drought. At Perth, though it was only early spring, we found 

 already in blossom a number of heaths (Epacrids) and many re- 

 markable Proteacese—Banksias and HaTceas. Especially striking was 

 the profusion of species of Drosera we met with here and elsewhere. 

 Some very beautiful trailing Leguminosae {Kennedya, Swainsona) were 

 also seen. 



A very advanced party spent fourteen days in West Australia ; 

 others only a week ; a few of us only a day — but in that day we saw 

 a vast deal, thanks to the zeal of our local guide, who took us by 

 motor right out into the bush on the Darling Hills, to a magnificent 

 view point, then to a vineyard and finally back into town through 

 the home district. During our excursion we visited a school for 

 aboriginal and half-caste children. As we left this our President 

 remarked : " At last I have seen Palaeolithic man " — it is not 

 possible to use terms more apposite as a description of the Australian 

 aboriginal. The Association came into contact with natives at 

 various other times and places. They are fully described by Prof. 

 Baldwin Spencer, Special Commissioner for Aboriginals, in the 

 invaluable handbook presented to the members of our body by the 

 Federal Government of Australia ; his article is richly illustrated 

 and of remarkable interest. It is probable, Professor Spencer says, 

 " that with the exception of one or two isolated groups, they repre- 

 sent the most backward race extant and in many respects reveal to 

 us the conditions under which the early ancesters of the present 

 human races existed." Since the present race has inhabited the 

 continent, they have never had to contend with any higher race nor 

 with dangerous animals, hence the low development of their intelli- 

 gence, in all probability. 



The natives are very carefully protected and to destroy them is 

 a penal offence ; they now play but a small part in the country and 

 mostly live by themselves in protected areas ; in the west and also in 

 Queensland, I believe, they help on the sheep and cattle runs. In 

 1911 there were about 20,000 in the Northern Territory, about 4000 

 in South Australia, perhaps 2000 in Xew South Wales and only a 

 very few hundred in Victoria. 



As there is no railway connecting Perth in Western Australia 

 with Adelaide, South xiustralia, a distance of about 1500 miles, we 

 all journeyed by steamship across the great Australian Bight, a 

 region wliich enjoys but an indifferent reputation among seamen ; 

 our party was exceptionally fortunate, as the weather was calm 

 throughout the five days' passage. As we passed southwards down 



