AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



eucalyptus, and the chemical consequences of such diffusion, he submits with 

 a calm confidence that 'there is an active agency in Australian vegetation 

 unknown in other countries,' and that the eucalyptus is rightly described as 

 an anti-fever tree. 



The tree most favoured for this purpose is the blue gum, or Eucalyptus 

 globus. The blue gum is extensively cultivated outside of Australia, because 

 experiment shows that it produces the most timber in the least time. The 

 rapidity with which the Australian forest recovers itself after apparent 

 destruction is indeed one of its marvels. In conversation a landed proprietor 

 of Benambra mentioned how, twenty-five years back, there were places in 

 his district in which scarce a stick could be seen — then diggers had cut 

 down every tree for firewood and for their workings. But the diggers have 

 gone, and now there is again the original dense forest. 



Next to the eucalypt the tree most prized in Australia is the graceful 

 acacia, varieties of which flourish throughout the continent. The tall 

 slender stem of the 'wattle' — as the tree is termed — supporting a feathery 

 foliage is everywhere to be met with in the south-eastern colonies. In the 

 spring-time the valleys and their river-courses are lit up with the golden 

 bloom which the tree bears in rare profusion, and the perfume scents the 

 air. In a room the odour of a mere twig of the wattle will often be found 

 to be overpowering. In England the young people can ' go a-Maying,' and 

 in Australia they have no happier time than when they go ' to bring the 

 wattle home.' The quotation is the refrain of a song which the sentiment 

 made popular. Not only is the wattle 'a thing of beauty' in itself, but the 

 circumstance that its bark is one of the most powerful tanning agencies in 

 the world, and has a high commercial value accordingly, renders it to its 

 possessor ' a joy for ever.' The tree is now being extensively planted in 

 Victoria, where the valuable varieties flourish, not by landscape gardeners, but 

 by shrewd agriculturists intent upon netting £\o per ton from the bark. 



A world of other vegetation demands notice. The seaboard has a 

 characteristic shrub of its own in the so-called tea-tree scrub, described by 

 Baron von Mueller as a ' myrtle-like Leptospermum, of tall stature, with half- 

 snowy, half-rosy flowers.' It is the best of sand-binders. No tract is so in- 

 hospitable but that the tea-tree will flourish there. It fights the ocean to its 

 edge. On some jutting promontory on which not a rush will grow, exposed 

 to every storm and swept by spray, the tea-tree will be found, stunted and 

 deserted, but still battling bravely for existence against sea and breeze. 



Inland the shea-oak {Casuarina striata) attracts attention. It is 

 scattered over the continent, and once seen is always remembered. The 

 tree is well shaped, but is leafless, long thin thongs taking the place of 

 foliage. The dark and gloomy appearance of the tree impresses itself upon 

 the spectator, and so, if he camps near it at night, does the melancholy 

 moaning of the wind through its pendent whip-like branchlets. 



