198 
other circumstances none of our floras are so likely to remain in 
their primitive condition as those where the siliceous nature of 
the soil naturally produces plants which from their innutritious 
quality fail to support any sort of stock, nor do introduced plants 
as a rule find this class of soil congenial. It is to be expected 
therefore that the Banksias, Hakeas, Melaleucas, and other 
plants eminently characteristic of Australia and peculiar to its 
sandy poor soils will remain comparatively unaffected in those 
parts of the continent which are not adapted to carry stock, 
are unsuited for cultivation, and remain comparatively free from 
bush: fires. 
On these grounds the unique and singularly lovely flora of 
Western Australia, especially of its ‘‘ sand plains,” and the moist 
district immediately contiguous to King George Sound, may 
possibly remain for centuries to come. Indeed to this peculiar 
flora occasional fires are to some extent beneficial, as not only 
are the long buried seeds germinated, but many species produce 
in the succeeding year their most luxuriant blooms. Of this, the 
locally named Cabbage- or Flame-tree, Vuytsia floribunda, is the 
most conspicuous instance, whose strikingly-brilliant orange- 
coloured bunches of bloom are only to be seen in their full gor- 
geousness at this time. 
The Xanthorreas too invariably flower after a thorough scorch- 
ing and thereby afford to bushmen sound data for reckoning the 
period which elapsed since the last fire. 
Indeed, of West Australia it may be said that no other part 
of the continent is so likely to have some of its indigenous flora 
preserved intact; because not only from the poorness of the soil 
and the fire-resisting quality of so many of its endemic plants, but 
also from the presence of several poisonous and deleterious plants 
which will not allow of overstocking, which is proving so pre- 
judicial to the Eastern-Australian floras. With the exceptions 
referred to of West Australia and other analogous soils with cor- 
responding floras, the constant recurrence of extensive conflagra- 
tions are in the highest degree prejudicial, and particularly to the 
forest-regions, and must ultimately destroy the noble growths of 
those giant forms which add so much to the value and beauty of 
our forests. In ordinary seasons suflicient moisture exists to pre- 
vent extensive destruction, but at intervals extremely dry seasons 
are experienced, and the undergrowths become highly inflam- 
mable; and then miles of country are completely devastated; and 
although only old or partially-decayed trees are consumed, the 
scorching of the upper branches of vigorous trees causes these to 
die away, and, ultimately rotting, the whole trunk becomes in- 
volved in decay, so that the next fire makes a prey of every tree 
so affected; the inevitable result being that wherever fires con- 
