116 FOREST CULTURE AND 
plants as Echinocactus platyceras, with its fifty thou- 
sand thorns and sete, should be cultivated in our open 
grounds for horticultural trade, whereas the Cochineal 
Cacti (Opuntia Tuna, O. coccinellifera and a few other 
species), might well be still further distributed here, 
in order that food may be available for the cochineal 
insects when other circumstances in Australia will ~ 
- become favorable for the local production of this cost- 
ly dye. 
These are a few of many instances which might be 
adduced to demonstrate how the landscape pictures 
of Victoria might be embellished in another century, 
and new means of gain be obtained from additional 
manifold resources. 
But while your thoughts are carried to other zones 
and distant lands, let us not lose sight of the reason 
for which we assembled, namely, to deal with utilita- 
rian objects and the application of science thereon. 
All organic structures, however, whether giants or 
pigmies, whether showy or inconspicuous, have their 
allotted functions to fulfill in nature, are destined to 
contribute to our wants, are endowed with their spe- 
cial properties, are heralding the greatness of the Cre- ° 
ator. But here in this hall I would like to see dis- 
played by pictorial art the most majestic forms in 
nature, were it only to delineate for the studious the 
physiognomy of foreign lands, irrespective of any 
known industrial value of the objects thus sketched. 
The painter’s art in choosing from nature does impress 
us most lastingly with the value and grandeur of its 
treasures. Each plant, as it were, has a history of 
discovery of its own ; who would not like to trace it ? 
And this again brings us face to face with those who 
