EUCALYPTUS TREES. 611 
special circumstances and requirements, educational, 
experimental, or otherwise ; these various cultural sys- 
tems might even in some instances and to some extent 
beadvantageously blended ; but, while they may all be 
represented in a botanic garden, the formal decorative 
planting, or the cultures for exclusive ornamentation 
should there at least not prevail, but be made subser- 
vient mainly to scientific objects. Much, in respect to 
bedding flowers and other simply decorative planting 
may be fairly left to the gardens formed for private 
entertainment and pleasure. Consider, only, what is 
there to show after the season’s expense and toil, 
when the gorgeous ribbons, of almost endless length, 
have faded away, or when the starry or other fanciful 
ornamentation has become blighted ? Undoubtedly 
there was magnificence, but it was transitory. True, 
portions of it will naturally revive—other portions 
may be restored with little cost, but the main restitu- 
_ tion of such floral displays ona gigantic scale requires 
expensive renewals, for which the State means, more 
particularly of a young colony, ought, in early days, 
to be too precious. I hold that, in a public cultural 
establishment, even in older countries, its endow- 
ments are more legitimately employed by devoting 
them to produce works of permanency and utility ; 
not, however, falling into the other extreme of shut- 
ting out altogether ornamentation in its less expen- 
sive form. I further hold that attractiveness, in a 
young garden or park, should commence in providing 
for befitting fencings, passable drives, reclamation of 
‘swamps, effective water-works, security against floods, 
shelter against storms, and the primary conversion of 
tracts of wilderness into useful and reproductive ver- 
