62 Field Naturalists' Clith—Pyoceedings. [^Au-i^f " 



capabililies for artistic work were becoming more recognized, 

 and from the common Red Gum of the Murray, E. rostrata, most 

 handsome furniture and other articles could be manufactured. 

 During the course of his remarks the lecturer showed an excellent 

 series of lantern slides, illustrating the types, leaf anatomy, wood- 

 sections, &c., of different species of eucalypts ; the progress made 

 in cultivating them in America, South Australia, &c. His 

 statements with regard to cultivation in America were a great 

 surprise to the majority of the audience. He related a case 

 where a farmer had given over his wheat-fields, amounting to 

 70,000 acres, to the growth of gums, and derived a better profit 

 from them than from wheat. The trees are regularly lopped, and 

 supply an immense amount of the best fuel for the stoves so 

 common in American houses. In addition, fencing material, 

 and timber for other purposes is already produced there from 

 gum-trees. 



The lecturer drew attention to a number of exhibits which he 

 had brought to illustrate his remarks. These included a fine series 

 of essential oils, articles made from the timber, manna, &c., in 

 addition to which Messrs. Cuming, Smith and Co. had kindly 

 made a fine display of the various products made at their 

 Warburton works. 



The lecture was concluded amid hearty applause, and the 

 Chairman thanked Mr. Baker for the interesting way in which he 

 had dealt with the subject. He felt sure that if his remarks could 

 be spread broadcast much greater respect would be shown 

 towards the gum-trees. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said that during a visit to Adelaide twelve 

 months ago he had been greatly pleased to see the number of 

 splendid Red Gums still remaining within the immediate surround- 

 ings of the city ; and with regard to the absence of gum-trees on the 

 Keilor Plains, remarked on by Mr. Baker, it was simply that they 

 never existed there on account of the unsuitable climate and soil. 



Mr. R. Kelly said, with regard to tree-planting in South 

 Australia, if Mr. Baker had visited the northern agricultural areas 

 he would have found that very little attention had been paid to 

 the preservation of the eucalypts. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., outlined what has been done by the 

 Forest Department in Victoria, and regretted the Conservator of 

 Forests had been unable to be present, owing to having been 

 called away to the Wimmera on departmental business. He said 

 that large plantations of Victorian hard woods were being made 

 wherever suitable areas could be found. 



EXHIBIT. 



By Mr. C. French, jun. — Three new Victorian scale insects — 

 viz., Fiorina anomala, Green, collected by Mr. J. E. Dixon at 

 South Morang ; Aspidiotus cingulatus, Green, and A. paiici- 

 glandulatus, Green, collected by himself at Lake .\lbacutya. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



