43 



importation of tea into Victoria during 1870 has been valued 

 in the Customs returns at 496,623; whereas Victoria might 

 largely export this highly-important and remunerative com- 

 modity. 



The simple process of gathering the leaves might be per- 

 formed by children. 



In the foregoing pages I alluded cursorily to the Cork Oak; 

 let me add my opinion, that in any locality with natural 

 boundaries, such as abrupt sides of ranges, deep watercourses, 

 where fences could be largely obviated, the cork-tree might 

 well be planted as a forest-tree, and thus estates be established 

 at little cost, with hardly any expense of maintenance, from 

 which a periodic yield of cork might be obtained for several 

 successive generations. The investment of a limited capital 

 for raising a cork forest in any naturally defined locality, 

 would, as I said, create a rich possession for bequest. Even 

 if by new inventions an artificial substitute for cork was found, 

 the wood of the cork oak would still be of some value. The 

 State might also reserve any forest area with natural boun- 

 daries for its various wood requirements. 



Many other cultural resources of forests are as yet very inade- 

 quately recognised. The dye-saffron might be grown as much 

 for amusement as for the sake of its pretty flowers (just as an 

 ordinary bulb), wherever juvenile gatherers are to be had. 

 Equally lucrative might be made the culture of another plant, 

 the medicinal colchicum, a gay autumnal flowering bulb, worthy 

 of a place in any garden. In apt forest spots both would become 

 naturalised. Amidst the forests, in glens which skirt the very 

 base of alpine mountains, on the M'Allister River, opium was 

 produced without any toil, almost as a play-work, to the value 

 of 30, from an acre. Mr. Bosisto, who on that particular 

 locality called forth this industry, found on analysis, that the 

 Gipps Land opium proved one of the most powerful on record, 

 10/100 of morphia being its yield. Small samples of opium, 

 prepared in the Melbourne Botanic Garden, were exhibited 

 some years ago at the International Exhibition. The Hon. 

 John Hood, of this city, promoted much the opium industry 

 in this country by the extensive distribution of seeds of the 

 Smyrna poppy; he found the yield here, in favourable seasons 

 and by careful operation, to be from 40 to 50 Ibs. on an acre, 

 worth at present 30s. to 35s. per Ib. The value of the opium 

 imported into Victoria during 1870, according to customs 

 returns, was 150,681. The banks of many a forest brook, 



