13 



tnent ; but, believing that a mistake had arisen, I regarded it as a matter 

 of duty to institute such euc^uiries as would remove any doubt existing 

 on the su1)ject. 



" It is well known that the blue gum has of late been very extensively 

 planted in various parts of the world. In Algeria and California it is 

 planted by hundreds of thousands, and in the latter jilace companies have 

 been formed for its extended cultivation. It therefore becomes a matter 

 of some importance to cultivators to ascertain whether it is possiVjle they 

 have been supplied with spurious seed, and are cultivating the wrong plant 

 or not. 



" So far as seed obtained from Tasmania is concerned, I cannot believe 

 that any but the true Luadi/ptas globulus has been supplied. In the first 

 place, the capsule and seed of this species is so distinct from any other 

 known Tasmanian kind, that seedsmen or merchants once having seen 

 them could not be imposed upon by the substitution of any other species ; 

 and, again, it is the only indigenous kind producing fertile seed sufficiently 

 large to enable collectors to separate it from the abortive. As a rule, all 

 the other Tasmanian species are sold as they shed from the caj^sule — that 

 is, the fertile and abortive seed mixed together. 



" His Excellency's remarks appear to have originated from the circum- 

 stance of his attention having been called to some fallen trees of Eucalyptus 

 a short distance above the fipriugs on Mount Wellington, which were said 

 to have been felled for the sake of their seed, together with the fact that 

 the produce of some seed which he had purchased in Hobart Town as that 

 of the Eucalyptus globulus did not appear to hun to be the true blue gum. 



" With reference to the jiarticular patch of trees refeiTed to, I have not 

 the slightest doubt that they were felled for their seed, which was 

 collected and exported under its proper name (Eucalyptus urnigera). 

 There is, in fact, a limited demand for these alj^ine species of Eucalypti, 

 which are required for cultivation in places that have proved too cold for 

 the blue gum. I hold in my hand an order from a French house, Mons. 

 Vilmorin, Andrieux et Cie., which enumerates no less than 64 species of 

 Eucalypti of which they require seeds. Included in these 64 sjjecies are a 

 few indigenous to Tasmania, three of which are alpine, viz.. Eucalyptus 

 gunnii, Eucalyptus urnigera and Eucalyptus coccifera. These forms are 

 found on the mountains, and all are met with on Mount Wellington, from 

 the Springs upwards. Eucalyptus gunnii is aiso common to the Lake 

 district, where it has received the name of ' Cider tree.' 



" Though previously aware that these three species had been collected 

 on Mount Wellington by the Brothers Gulliver, I thought it advisable to 

 write to Mr. B. Gulliver for full particulars. His answer I will give in his 

 own words : — 



" ' In reply to your request it affords me much pleasure to 

 furnish you with what particulars I can respecting the collection of 

 Eucalyi^tus seeds. I have collected the following seeds on Mount Wel- 

 lington, and have purchased the same three species from Mr. Woods, who 

 lives there, namely, Eucalyptus gunnii, Eucalyptus urnigera, and Eucalyptus 

 coccifera. These species I have found only on the mountains of Tasmania. 

 I introduced them into Europe about four years ago, and highly recom- 

 mended them for cultivation in colder parts of the continent. Since then 

 the demand for the alpine species has increased, owing to their success in 

 resisting heavy frosts, which have destroyed many other Eucalypti. 



" ' The following is a list of the quantities exported by me since 1874 : — 

 " ' 10 lbs. Eucalyptus gunnii, at 30s. per lb. 

 " ' 10 lbs. Eucalyptus coccifera, at 30s. per lb. 

 " ' 2 lbs. Eucalyptus urnigera, at 30s. per lb. 



" 'The trees of ^«w/ti'i and wrHw/cro. are felled for their seeds. Coccifera 

 can be collected without cutting down the trees.' 



