' AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 205 
The enormous height attained by not isolated, but vast masses of 
our timber-trees in the rich diluvial deposits of sheltered depressions 
within Victorian ranges finds its principal explanation, perhaps, in the 
circumstance that the richness of the soil is combined with a humid 
geniality of the climate, never sinking to the colder temperature of 
lasmama, nor rising to a warmth less favourable to the strong deve- 
lopment of these trees in New South Wales, nor ever reduced to that 
comparative dryness of air which even to some extent in the mountain 
ravines of South Australia is experienced. The absence of living 
gigantic forms of animal life amidst the hugest vegetable forms is all 
the more striking. 
Statistics of actual measurement of trees compiled in various parts 
« the globe would be replete with deep interest, not merely to 
science, but disclose also in many instances vast resources but little 
understood up to the present day. Not merely, however, in their stu- 
pendous altitude, but also in their celerity of growth, we have in all 
Probability to concede to Australian trees the prize. Extensive com- 
parisons instituted in the Botanic Gardens of this metropolis prove 
several species of Eucalyptus, more particularly Eucalyptus globulus 
a Eucalyptus obliqua, as well as certain Acacias-for instance, Acacia 
rrens or Acacia mollissi.a—hv exceeding in their ratio of develop- 
jn any extra- Australian trees even on dry and exposed spots, such 
o which spontaneously our Blue Gum-trees would not penetrate. This 
resit | * qU1Ckl ' eSS ° f grow* 1 *, combined with a perfect fitness to 
^ 8 drought, has rendered many of our trees famed abroad, especially 
attaTTl' l(S Wheie tbC §UPpIy ° f fuel ° r ° f hErd WOods is n0t readil y 
plant' ° r UhC - e f ° r lilisillg Shelt( ''' Hke ai0Und the cmen01ia " 
a ions of India, the early and copious command of tall vegeta- 
nifi " ,S 0f operative importance. To us here this ought to be%ig- 
plov d 1 l SCarce ty need refer to the fact that for numerous unem- 
*ebht S tlie K«tneiing of Eucalyptus seeds, of which a pound 
Iucm' , SUftiCeS t0 IaiSe '" all * y tll0usaDfl trees, might be a source of 
probclT 3nd extensive em pioyment. In Australian vegetation we 
globe } " V P ° SSesS the means o f obliterating the rainless zones of the 
the T S P re<lf ' at last woods over our deserts, and thereby to mitigate 
nail r6ssin § brought, and to annihilate perhaps even that occasio- 
^ou, u | X °j eSS1Ve d ' y heat evolved b y tlie Sl, »' s r «.vs from the naked 
- ■ "< throughout extensive regions of the interior, and wafted with 
0L - v . [JULY l,18fi7.] <4 
