^'P'-'l Presidential Address. i? 



1920 J J' 



into effect by the Forests Commission. But the strain on the 

 hardwood forests of Victoria is severe, and must continue so 

 for a generation. Thus the care of our indigenous forests is 

 a matter of paramount interest for this Club, and I venture 

 to suggest hues of future work in this connection. Could we 

 not form groups for the purpose of forest investigation ? One 

 group might attack the important work of forest entomology, 

 another forest ornithology, while the forest fungi and vegetable 

 parasites and forest weeds could each absorb the activities of 

 a group. There is also much to be done in ecological work 

 and other sections of forestry. Those whose business it is to 

 exploit the forests {e.g., sawmillers and timber merchants) take 

 no initiative in these matters, but rely on the Government. 

 The Government does not rely on us, but, unable itself to do 

 everything that requires doing, might confidently be expected 

 to assist in various ways work of a useful nature once begun 

 and of fair promise. 



There is another field of work in danger of serious reduction, 

 and affects the microscopists. This comprises the still waters 

 near the city, wherein there is still abundance of unknown 

 or little known life of either animal or vegetable nature. Many 

 groups require working, and the few groups being worked require 

 more students. The requisition is urgent, as the small ponds 

 and marshes are disappearing in the outer suburban land 

 reclamation and improvement. When it is remembered how 

 easily microscopic forms of life, especially in spore form, are 

 transferred by aquatic birds, &c., from pool to pool, and that 

 the bird now swimming or wading in a near-by marsh may 

 later be deHghtedly splashing in a distant reservoir of our 

 water supply, the economic as well as scientific interest of such 

 study as this field affords must be at once obvious, and the 

 Ix-nefit in getting these microscopic organisms collected, 

 examined, described, and recorded must be apparent. 



Finally, without wishing to exhaust the whole scheme of 

 the Club's existing or future activities, I would say a few 

 words as affecting the need of preservation of some types of 

 animal and plant associations, some of them within easy reach 

 of Melbourne, and others remote. There should be acquired, 

 within the limits of an afternoon's excursion from the city, 

 a coastal tea-tree area (the Leptospermetnm of the botanist), 

 wWch should be available for botanical investigation only and 

 reserved permanently for future generations of botanical 

 students. The ordinary holiday camper, the vandal, and 

 hoodlum would not gain access except as trespassers if permits 

 were issued through secondary schools and scientific societies. 

 Similarly, an area of Sandringham flora should be reserved, 

 fenced, and protected by fire-breaks. l""urther afield, an urgent 

 need of the ornithologist would l)e met by the pennanent 



