4 P1?0CKEDINGS OP THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND. 



An event of interest among local natural history circles 

 was the amalgamation of the Queensland Field Naturalists' 

 Club with the Gould League of Bird-lovers, under the title of 

 the " Queensland Naturalists' Club," the Gould League being 

 embodied in a junior section loiown as the '" Nature -lovers" 

 League." In the past both bodies have done excellent work 

 in their respective spheres, and it is hoped the amalgamation 

 will moan an increased activity in natural history matters in 

 Queensland, particularly in fostering a love among the rising 

 generation for our beautiful native birds, animals, and plants. 



The inauguration of a Queensland branch of the British 

 Empire Forestry Association at a public meeting held during 

 the Literstate Forestry Conference recently held in Brisbane, 

 is a matter for congratulation.' and it is hoped the newly 

 formed association will be able to foster a keen public spirit 

 towards forestry matters in Queensland, particularly as regards 

 the conservation and regeneration of our more important 

 timber trees. Our total tree flora is not yet known and every 

 year sees new species brought to light, and I would here make 

 a j)lea for a proper botanical survey of our more richly timbered 

 areas, particularly those at present little known. 



In hLs '■ Discussion of Australian Forestry " the late Sir 

 D. E. Hutchins states : " Those who do not know Australia 

 will hardly credit the assertion that after a white occupation 

 of one hundred years or more the country is still without a 

 single national arboretum."" He goes on to describe^ the lai'gc 

 arboretum at Tokai, near CapetOAvn, South Africa, in which 

 about 150 species of eucalypts are growing. He then goes on 

 to make a plea for the establishment of suburban forests or 

 arboreta near the larger towns. ' The Centennial Park," he 

 says, '■ is a splendid open space in nearly the centre of Sydney 

 for a suburban forest. Certainly if one-third of the space was 

 kept open for lawns, flower-beds, and ornamental water, the 

 remaining two-thirds might be devoted to an arboretum, which 

 would be the centre of arboriculture in New South Wales and 

 from many points of view would be the leading feature of th(^ 

 city of Sydney." In Brisbane we have a similar large open 

 space in Victoria Park, at present a more or less neglected area, 

 which A\'ould make an ideal site for a large collection of trees 

 within the city boundaries. It has one feature in common 

 with the Centennial Park — i.e.. a very ]ioor. barren soil — but 

 a lot of this land coiild ])e reclaimed with city refuse at a 

 reasonable cost. 



