124 KEV. V,'. WOOLLS, PH.D., F.L.S., ON THE 



the experience of the past centuiy affords some indication of 

 changes which may yet be reahsed. Since the British hmded 

 on the shores of Australia in 1788, the work of destruction 

 has been going on amongst indigenous plants. That 

 destruction was, no doubt, in operation when as yet the white 

 man had not set his foot on the land, for the destroying 

 tempest, the ravages of insect pests, the periodical fires m 

 the bush and tlie alternation of flood and drought, had 

 •exe.rcised their influence on the vegetation independently of 

 the slow and imperceptible changes arising from climatic and 

 geologic considerations. With the advent, however, of the 

 white man in Australia a new era commenced in its Flora and 

 henceforth the process of cultivation, the introduction of 

 foreign plants, either accidentally or designedly, and in some 

 instances the Avanton destruction of certain species, have all 

 combined to impart a novel character to the Flora of the 

 settled districts, and of initiating a modified system of vege- 

 table groAvth whereby the old has sometimes made way for 

 the new, or the new and the old have become strangely 

 associated together. 



When the first settlers landed at Port Jackson the native 

 forest appeared in its primeval grandeur, and numerous 

 ■species of shrubs and flowers greeted their wondering gaze 

 Avith novel forms of vegetation. This state of things did 

 not long continue. Large trees, many probably the groAvth 

 of centuries, fell before the Avorkman's axe for the purposes 

 of building, fencing, and burning ; Avhilst the smaller plants 

 were soon cleared aAvay as useless impediments in the Avay of 

 •cultivation. In many countries there are AAald fruits and 

 A'egetables Avhich can be utilised by the settler. This Avas 

 not the case Avitli that part of Australia Avhere Sydney noAV 

 stands, and therefore one of the earliest objects of the 

 colonists Avas to clear the ground for the cultivation of such 

 plants as Avere considered suitable for food. In doing this a 

 great destruction of native plants ensued, and now after the 

 lapse (jf a c;entury it is impossible to find some of the plants 

 which Ih'oAvn and the early botanists described as occurring 

 in the neighbourhood of Sydney, Avhilst streets of houses or 

 cultivated spots occupy the area Avhere the toAvering Eucalypt, 

 the curious Protead, the lovely Epacrid, or the host oi 

 delicate orchids, once reigned in undisturbed profusion. Tlie 

 introduction also of foreign plants has had a Avonderful 

 influence in destroying the natiA'e A'cgetation ; and as the 

 population spread further from tlie coast, the same result 



