208 * AUSTRALIAN VEGETATION. 
In closing these concise and somewhat chaotic remarks, which 
scarcely admit of methodical arrangement, unless by expansion into 
the chapters of a volume, we may— indulging in a train of thoughts 
pass from special to general considerations. 
Belgium, one of the most densely populated of all countries, and 
yet one of the most prosperous, nourishes within an area less than 
one-half that of Tasmania a population three times exceeding that of 
all Australian colonies ; yet one-fifth of the Belgian territory consists 
of forests. Not to a considerable extent smaller than Europe, our 
continent is likely to support in ages to come a greater population, be- 
cause, while here no frigid zone excludes from any portion of the terri- 
tory productiveness, or reduces it to very circumscribed limits, it 
embraces a wide tropical tract, destined to yield products nowhere to 
be raised under the European sky. The comparatively unbroken uni- 
formity of vast tracts of Australia certainly restricts us here for the 
magnificent scenery and the bracing air of the country of our youth 
to the hilly coast-tracts. But still, we have not to endure the pro- 
tracted colds of middle and north European winters nor to contend 
with such climatic difficulties which beset field operations or pastoral 
pursuits, and which by patient perseverance could not be removed or 
materially lessened. 
While we are deprived of advantages so pleasing and so important 
as those of large river communications, we enjoy great facilities or 
land traffic, facilities to which every new discovery of coal-layers will 
add. 
Judicious forest culture, appropriate to each zone, will vastly ame- 
liorate the climate, and provide for the dense location of our race; or 
transplanting of almost every commodity both of the vegetable an 
animal kingdom, we possess, from the alp to the steppes, from the co 
mountain-forests to the tropic jungles, conditions and ample space. 
Kiver waters, now flowing unutilized to the ocean, when cas 
over the back plains, and artesian wells also, will effect marve ou 
changes. Steam power and the increased ingenuity of machinery *\> 
plied to cultivation will render the virgin soil extensively productive 
with far less toil than in older countries, while the teachings of science 
will guard us against the rapacious systems of culture and the 
. . . i i Of f er ° - 
of fertilizers, which wellnigh involved ruin to many a laud. 
eious land animals, Australia is free. We have neither to eiicoun 
