13 



" From the foregoing it would appear that there has not boon more than 

 25 lbs. weight exported of these alpine species up to the present time. I 

 believe the Mes.-<i-K. (inlliver to have been the largest if not the only 

 e.\portei-s of these kiuils. Mr. F. Lipscombe, of this town, is the only 

 seedsman who has these alpine species in stock, and he has not sold more 

 than a few ounces of them. 



" It will also be seen that the market value of the alpine species is 30s. 

 per lb., while pure seed of blue gum is obtainable at from 7s. to 10s. per 

 lb. Even supposing therefore that a similaritj' existed in the seed, it is 

 highly improbable that the more expensive kinds would be used to adulter-, 

 ate that of less commercial value. 



" As regards the plants produced from the seed supplied to His Excellency, 

 whatever appearance they may have put on in their infantile state, I have 

 not the slightest doubt that they will in time take the glaucous hue so 

 peculiar to the young state of the blue glum. The absence of this glaucous 

 appearance in these particular seedlings is only to be accounted for by the 

 fact that they have been raised under artificial circumstances, or, in other 

 words, too much codiUed. I have had an opportunity of seeing a portion 

 of the seeil in question, and do not hesitate to pronounce it to be the 

 genuine blue gum, or Eucalijptus glohulus, and I am informed that a 

 portion of the same seed had been previously supplied for sowing at the 

 Cornelian Bay Cemetery, and that in cansequence of its having germinated 

 there so freely, it was selected for the Government House Grounds. I 

 now produce seedlings from both places, and it must be admitted that, liy 

 an onlinary oljserver, not taking into consideration the different treat- 

 ment the plants have received, they might be taken for distinct species, but 

 there is nothing in their appearance which may not be accounted for by 

 ditterence of culture. 



" At the Cornelian Bay Cemeteiy the seed was sown in patches at 

 intervals aliout the boundary fences, and left to chance. The result is, 

 many thousands of seedlings, in various stages of growth, but all sturdy, 

 ami having the glaucous hue highly developed. At the Government House 

 Grounds, on the other hand, the seed appears to have been sown in boxes 

 and raised in frames, or otherwise shaded and protected. This treatment 

 would necessitate frequent waterings over the leaves, which, in addition to 

 the exclusion of the full influence of the sun would produce the difference 

 in the appearance of the i^lauts. 



" I have been informed by His Excellency that when in New Zealand 

 he had frequently heard it stated that sj^urious or inferior seed had been 

 supplied as geiuune blue gum. The difference of treatment to which the 

 seedlings may have been subjected might perhaps be sufficient to account 

 for this impression, but if, in reality, such was the case, I cannot think 

 that the seed had been obtained from Tasmania. I have before stated that 

 the seed of Eucalyptus globulus is so readily distinguishable from any other 

 Tasmanian sjiecies, as to prevent the possibility of fraud, even supposing 

 any inducement existed for it. 



■' 1 am n<;t sufficiently acquainted with the numerous AustraKan forms 

 of Eucalypti (about 140) to say whether there are any the seeds of 

 which could be substituted for that of Eucalyptus globulus. Certain it 

 is that several species have locally obt;xined the name of ' blue giun,' which 

 are not identical with that of Tasmania, but I cannot say that they have 

 ever been substituted for it. 



" These notes have been made with the view of showing the improbability 

 of the .seed of any of the eleven known species of Tasmanian Eucalypti 

 being substituted for that of Eucalyptus globulus, and if they have succeeded 

 in doing so their object will have been attained." 



The Uev. J. E. Tknison Woods, after a few prefatory remarks as to the 

 imporUiuco of the collections of tertiary fossils made by Mr. K. ' M, 



