160 SETTLING IN QUEENSLAND, ETC. 



much-respected Colonial Botanist, Mr. Frederick Manson Bailey. 

 The services of the only man in the State who I believe 

 has a thorough knowledge of the subject, are to be dispensed 

 with because it has not yet been realized that the store of knoA'- 

 ledge which his age has enabled him to accumulate, may be used 

 for one of the most practical purposes which the pastoral 

 interest stands so much in need of. I do not contend that new 

 grasses and new herbage may be easily found which will resist 

 drought in the West ; but why should we assume that they can- 

 not be found? Should efforts in this direction prove 

 unsuccessful, we surely may hope that drought-resisting shrubs 

 can be found. The long-despised prickly pea»", Opicntia vulyaiis 

 of the botanists, has saved many hundreds, if not thousands of 

 stock. We have also amongst our indigenous plants the mulga, 

 appletree, oak, bottletree, and others which have kept 

 anim Is alive, if not healthy, for many months in 

 succession, a fact which oughL to encourage pastoralists 

 to persevere. At least they might cultivate patches 

 of these. And why should not the Government assist 

 in a work which aims at so much good to the State by 

 adding to the value of Crown lands ? We have agricultural 

 experts, tobacco experts, fruit experts, dairy experts, and 

 others whose special business it is to assist agriculture in its 

 various forms. Would it be too much to ask that experiments 

 in the direction I have indicated be initiated for the benefit of 

 the pastoral industry, under the direction of our exceptionally 

 well-informed Government Botanist, Mr. Bailey ? Surely this 

 would be wiser than sleeping on until another drought overtakes 

 us ; and the cost need not be large. The trees which have been 

 keeping thousands of stock alive for so long are being extermi- 

 nated. Have those persons, who have derived so great benefit 

 from them, even begun to consider what substitute may be 

 provided in place of them if they should not be quickly replaced ? 



