THE EUCALYPTS OF GIPPSLAND. 



109 



Influence of Settlement on the Eucalyptus Forests. 



The influence of settlement upon the Eucalyptus forests has not been confined 

 to the settlements upon lands devoted now to agriculture or pasturage, or by the 

 earlier occupation by a mining population. 



It dates from the very day when the first hardy pioneers drove their flocks and 

 herds down the mountains from New South Wales into the rich pastures of 

 Gippsland. 



Before this time the gramminivorous marsupials had been so few in comparative 

 number, that they could not materially affect the annual crop of grass which 

 covered the country, and which was more or less burnt off by the aborigines, either 

 accidentally or intentionally, when travelling, or for the purpose of hunting game. 



These annual bush fires tended to keep the forests open, and to prevent the 

 open country from l^eing overgrown, for they not only consumed much of the 

 standing or fallen timber, but in a great measure destroyed the seedlings which had 

 sprung up since former conflagrations. 



The influence of these bush fires acted, however, in another direction, namely, 

 as a check upon insect life, destroying, among others, those insects which prey upon 

 the Eucalypts. 



Granted these premises, it is easy to conclude that any cause which would 

 lessen the force of the annual bush fires, would very materially alter the balance of 

 nature, and thus produce new and unexpected results. 



The increasing number of sheep and cattle in Gippsland, and the extended 

 settlement of the district, lessened the annual crop of grass, and it was to the interest 

 of the settlers to lessen and keep within bounds bush fires which might otherwise be 

 very destructive to their improvements. 



The results were twofold. Young seedlings had now a chance of life, and a severe 

 check was removed from insect pests. The consequences of these and other 

 co-operating causes may be traced throughout the district, and a few instances will 

 illustrate my meaning. 



The valley of the Snowy River, when the early settlers came down from Maneroo 

 to occupy it, as for instance, from Willis downwards to Mountain Creek, was very open 

 and free from forests. At Turnback and the Black Mountain, the mountains on the 

 western side of the river were, in many parts, clothed with grass, and with but a few 

 large scattered trees of E. hemiphloia. 



