Agricultural and Horticultural Resources. 43 



fruit trees, and vegetables also thrive there exceedingly well. 

 It is in the mountainous regions of Gipps Land that the cul- 

 ture of rye is likely to be more successful than elsewhere 

 within the Victorian territory. 



The accomplished first explorer and settler of this beautiful 

 part of the colony, states, that vines, fruit trees, and currant 

 bushes, &c, attain the greatest perfection. Apples grown at 

 the Avon orchard attained a weight of 18£ ounces. 



Mr. McMillan finally remarks, that whenever a good road 

 is formed from Port Albert through Gipps Land, this district 

 would soon prove the garden and granary of the country. 



How much remains yet to be done for tillage there may be 

 ascertained by the fact, that of the extensive territory of North 

 and South Gipps Land, comprising about 10 millions of acres, 

 only about 3000 acres have been hitherto under cultivation. 



It should, however, not be forgotten, that some very exten- 

 sive tracts of Gipps Land are unavailable for cereal cultivation. 

 Fertile meadows alternate with heath-ground and swamps, 

 and open valleys with densely timbered, often barren, and 

 scrubby ranges. The vast swamps may however one day be 

 turned to profitable account by the cultivation of the New 

 Zealand flax, a plant of vigorous growth in our climate, and 

 requiring scarcely any attention in its cultivation. The 

 machinery for separating the very tenacious fibre from the leaf 

 has lately received so many improvements as to let us foresee 

 that a staple of export may hereafter be obtained from the 

 cultivation of this plant. 



Some settlers, with wise foresight, have already turned to 

 practical advantage some of the swampy tracts, by forming 

 willow plantations, with a view of obtaining material for 

 basket-work, no willows, nor any good substitute for them, 

 being indigenous in Australia. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



Throughout the colony millet might undoubtedly be culti- 

 vated with success, as well adapted to resist the droughts. The 

 cultivation of tobacco has hitherto not been frequent ; but the 

 results obtained lead us to anticipate that a very superior 

 article may be produced, both to meet our own wants and for 

 export. 



The white mulberry tree has become more and more dis- 

 tributed over the colony ; and growing, as might be expected, 

 with great facility in this climate, there cannot be the 

 slightest doubt that ere long the rearing of the silkworm 



