10 March, 1919.] Ornamental Flora. 188 



THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA FROM AN ORNAMENTAL 



ASPECT. 



Edward J<J. Pescolt. F.L.S., F.B.Il.S., Gorernment Pomologist. 



Introduction. 



The urgency of tree uiiJ shrub planting is becoming more and more 

 apparent, especially in the areas away from the cities and towns, where 

 for years the aesthetic aspect of farm and country life has been much 

 neglected. The necessity for tree planting was previously urged in this 

 Journal,^ and there is no need here to cover that ground again; it is 

 too well known. 



No doubt there are many trees and shrubs suitable for culture in 

 all climates and soils, plants of diverse foliage and general character, 

 so that the choice for the intending grower is practically unlimited. 

 But it must be agreed that the natural flora of any country is the 

 one most suited to the natural conditions of that country; that is, 

 conditions under which little or no artificial means of culture, such 

 as abundance of water and manure, are available. 



Very considerable prominence is now being given to the cultivation 

 of the Australian endemic flora, and it is to encourage tliis patriotic 

 sentiment that the following notes have been compiled. 



It has been repeatedly stated that the character and colouring of 

 the native trees are very monotonous. Sugh a statement could be made 

 only by one who has not looked at them with a seeing eye. The 

 gums are wonderfully variable in colouration — of greens, dark and light, 

 of blue-greens, and of browns — and when the young growth comes, the 

 purple, pink, and red colourings of the tips are magnificent. Indeed, 

 the variations of colour that are apparent in the native flora form one 

 of its great charms. 



Our gum trees are universally known, and it is probably true that 

 they are more appreciated by many people living in foreign countries 

 than by Australians. 



Qum Trees. 



The eucalypts, or gum trees, as they are more familiarly knowji, 

 form the chief Australian tree flora, and it has been computed that there 

 are over 200 species, ranging in height from low shrubby trees to giant 

 forest trees, perhaps the tallest trees in the world. 



Gum trees for cultural purposes may be placed in two classes — 

 those grown purely for their floral beauty, and those which are classed 

 as ornamental trees. 



Of those grown for the beauty of their blossom, the most popular and 

 also the most beautiful is the scarlet-flowered gum of Western Australia, 

 hJucalyptus ficifolia. This is generally considered to be a small tree, 

 of low-growing habit, but occasionally fine large specimens are found 

 in favorable situations. One of these is to be seen at T^arre Warren, 

 in Victoria, in the garden of Mr. G. W. Ivobinson. This tree, wliich 

 is considerably over fifty years old, has three main stems, each averaging- 

 over 5 feet in circumference, while the trunk itself measures nearly 



*"A Plea for Tree Planting and Tree Preservation," I>y .T. M. P, id, T.S O.. Siirvoyor-Gener;il. 

 .Iwru'il of Agriculture. A'ictnria. Vol. 4, page 705, Dee., 190f<. 



