Introduction of Useful Plants into Victoria. 93 



Abt. XIII. — On a General Introduction of Useful Plants 

 into Victoria. By Dr. Feed. Mueller. 



[Read before the Institute, 30th September, 1857.] 



In responding on this occasion to numerous inquiries, I wish 

 to draw attention to some of the most useful plants deserving 

 either introduction into this country or a wider diffusion 

 throughout our territory. 



But I cannot hope to do within the limits of these pages 

 justice to a subject so important and hitherto so scantily re- 

 garded, but rather desire to excite the co-operation of abler 

 men, and the interest of the community for this purpose. 



During the first periods of colonisation, the immigrants are 

 but rarely enabled to direct, their labours beyond immediate 

 wants ; and in a colony bike ours, where the midtitude of in- 

 habitants were engaged in occupations foreign to husbandry, it 

 encountered at least in some of its branches double em- 

 barassment. 



But since now a large proportion of our population is re- 

 turning gradually from a migratory life to the firm abodes of 

 settled communities, the time has arrived, when our thoughts 

 should be directed, not only to the means of our present, but 

 also of our future prosperity. We ought to be encouraged in 

 these views, particularly in regard to tillage, when, considering 

 the extensive fertility of this colony, not less than when re- 

 flecting on the great advantages of our climate, which neither 

 exposes us to the enervating influences of a most tropical 

 heat, nor to the inclemency of the severe winters of higher 

 latitudes. 



Thus rarely favoured, we possess the means of appropriating 

 to our colony, not only all the plants of the warm temperate, 

 but also many of the colder and even some of the equinoctial. 



When, however, pointing to the possibility of cultivating in 

 this country, the products of so different zones, it remains to 

 be remembered, that not all tracts of the colony are sharing 

 equally and simultaneously this advantage, but on the contrary 

 many of its portions are destined for a distinct vegetation. 



It must suffice to describe on this occasion the climatical 

 conditions of the colony quite superficially, but henceforth we 

 will be better guided in our tillage operations, by inquiries into 

 the local peculiarities of our climate, commenced by Mr. Smyth 

 with so much zeal and ability. 



In the northern parts of the colony, from the borders of the 



H 



