39 



established, they would suffice, in the instance of the blue- 

 gum tree, to cover 404 acres, assuming that we planted at the 

 rate of 100 trees to the acre (allowing for thinning-out). The 

 following notes for comparison may be of interest : 



Grains. 



1 oz. of seed of Pinus Pinaster contains 730 



1 Pinea 38 



1 Haleppensis 940 



1 Alba 10,080 



1 Cupressus sempervirens 4,970 



1 Fraxinus ornus 316 



1 Betulaalba 34,560 



1 Acer pseudoplatanus ,, 183 



It seems marvellous that trees of such colossal dimensions, 

 counting among the most gigantic of the globe, should arise 

 from a seed grain so extremely minute. 



The exportation of eucalyptus seeds has already assumed 

 some magnitude. Our monthly mails conveyed occasionally 

 quantities to the value of over XlOOj the total export during 

 the last twelve years must have reached several or perhaps 

 many thousands pounds sterling. For the initiation of this 

 new resource, through his extensive correspondence abroad, the 

 writer can lay much claim; and he believes that almost any 

 quantity of eucalyptus seeds could be sold in markets of 

 London, Paris, Calcutta, San Francisco, Buenos Ayres, Val- 

 paraiso and elsewhere, as it will be long before a sufficient 

 local supply can be secured abroad from cultivated trees. 



Monsieur Prosper E-amel, of Paris, stands foremost among 

 those, who promoted eucalyptus culture in South Europe. 



Facts, such as just alluded to, may give an idea with what 

 ease the eucalyptus can be disseminated over extensive areas. 

 Although the first cost of seeds, or the facilities for their transit, 

 preservation and germination, can only enter to a small extent 

 into consideration, when an object so important as that of 

 raising or restoring forests is to be attained, yet the data thus 

 far given in reference to some of the best eucalypts cannot 

 but tend towards encouragement of culture here and abroad. 

 Indeed, among nearly all the trees of the globe, most of our 

 eucalypts, together with species of the allied genera tristania, 

 angophora, melaleuca and metrosideros produce seeds the 

 most minute and the most copious. The seeds of the birches 

 and of most species of ficus are, however, also remarkably light 

 and numerous. 



D 2 



