AUSTRALIAN TREES AND SHRUBS. 107 



imported seed in small quantity might be more economically 

 raised under glass. Mr. Birkbeck is quoted by Messrs. Ehves 

 and Henry as recommending the following : Pot the seedlings 

 when 2in. to Sin. high ; re -pot often, as the plants never do 

 well after their roots are pot-bound. Give them bone-meal, 

 keep under glass until 3ft. high, and plant out in good soil in 

 May and June when they are about two years old. Keep 

 them well-staked, as they are easily blown down ; but keep 

 the fastenings loose, as the trees increase quickly in girth. 

 None of the Eucalypts do well with overhanging shade. 

 Mr. Bateman laid great stress on this point, and it was borne 

 out by his success in large plantations of E. Gunnii. In 

 very exposed situations shelter from strong south-westerly 

 winds is necessary. 



SELECTION OF SPECIES. 



As to the selection of species, it may be gathered that as E. 

 cocci f era, E. cor data, E. vernicosa, and E. urnigera are hardy 

 and ornamental, and do not usually grow into very large trees ; 

 they are well suited for garden cultivation. On the other 

 hand E. Gunnii, E. W hitting ehamensis, E. acervula, and E. 

 Muelleri, also hardy, are better suited as specimen trees or 

 for belts and plantations. The blue gum (E. globulus), 

 although ornamental, when quite young, on account of its 

 comparative tenderness and untidy habit is not recommended 

 where other species are avaiable. E. ficifolia, one of the 

 most ornamental of all the eucalypts, with red flowers, 

 has not succeeded, anywhere, out of doors in this countrj 7 . 

 It flowers and fruits regularly in a conservatory at Abbotsbury. 



HARDY ACACIAS. 



The acacias or wattles include some fairly large trees, and 

 also form an important portion of the scrub vegetation of 

 Australia. The flowers, are small and collected in large 



