126 REV. W. WOOLLS, PH.D., F.L.S., ON THE 



Avitli the introduction of foreign plants, the gradual extinction 

 of native species has been accelerated by the increase of 

 sheep and cattle which feed on the more delicate plants, the 

 Avanton destruction of floral beauties for flower shows and 

 decorative pur])oses, and the wholesale slaughter of Eucaly])ts 

 by ring-barking. Some years ago the Cabbage Palm and the 

 Tree Fern flourished in the vicinity of Sydney, and many 

 orchids which once sprang up where the city and its 

 suburbs have usurped the soil, have ceased to do so. 

 Change, therefore, is stamped on the Flora of Australia, and 

 though the change is more perceptible in the oldest of 

 the colonies than in those recently established, it is evident 

 that as the white man has extended his operations, so 

 in proportion native shrubs have become less frequent. 

 And this is quite independent of the fact that from some 

 cause or other whole forests of Eucalypts have perished. 

 A¥hether this has arisen from insects, opossums, flood and 

 drought, or from fungi, has not been clearly ascertained, but 

 such destruction must materially affect the Flora, even sup- 

 posing that when the causes of destruction have been 

 removed, the larger species spring np again. But perhaps in 

 process of time as the " Select Plants " recommended by Baron 

 von Mueller for industrial purposes spread over the country, 

 it may bo found that some species are likely to prove more 

 serviceable than the stunted kinds of Eucalypt which now 

 prevail in certain parts of the country, and forests of new 

 and valuable trees may take the place of those which under 

 other conditions have long been cumberers of the ground. 

 And this leads to another matter of infinite importance to the 

 development of the coming Flora, viz., the extensive plant- 

 ing of forests under the direction of the respective Colonial 

 Governments. This subject has been ably explained in the 

 Baron's Fored Resources of Western Australia, and if only a 

 small portion of the trees Avhich he has suggested for cultiva- 

 tion in that part of Australia now become acclimatised, it is 

 evident that they will produce a great revolution in the 

 Flora, not merely alfecting the general appearance of the 

 country, but "as the rainfall of a comitry depends in a great 

 measure upon the abundance of its trees" (Sinai and Palestine, 

 hy the Rev. F. W. Holland), an increased moisture would 

 lead to the introduction of many smaller plants Avhich need 

 shade and rain for their growth. Ancient Pho'iiicia, "the 

 land of palms," furnished it is said, an exanqile of the 

 advantages arising from the existence of forests. Lying 



