EUCALYPTUS TREES. 167 
In closing these concise and somewhat chaotic sug- 
gestions, which scarcely admit of methodical arrange- 
ment, unless by expansion into the chapters of a vol- 
ume, we may—indulging in a train of thought—pass 
from special to general considerations. 
Belgium, one of the most densely populated of all 
countries, and yet one of the most prosperous, nourish- 
ed within an area less than one half that of Tasmania 
a population three times exceeding that of all the 
Australian colonies ; yet one fifth of the Belgian ter- 
ritory consists of forests. Not to any considerable 
extent smaller than Europe, our continent is likely to 
support in ages hence a greater population ; because, 
while here no frigid zone excludes any portion of the 
territory from productiveness, or reduces it anywhere 
to very circumscribed limits, it embraces a wide trop- 
ical tract, destined to yield us products nowhere to be 
raised under the European sky. The comparatively 
unbroken uniformity of vast tracts of Australia cer- 
tainly restricts us for the Magnificent sceneries and 
the bracing air of the countries of our youth here to 
the hilly coast-tracts ; but still we have not to endure 
the protracted colds of middle and northern European 
Winters, nor to contend with the climatic difficulties 
which beset tillage operations or pastoral pursuits, 
and which, by patient perseverance, could not be 
removed or be materially lessened. 
While we are deprived of advantages so pleasing 
and so important as those of large river communica- 
tions, we enjoy great facilities for land traffic, facili- 
ties to which every new discovery of coal-layers will 
add. 
