EFFECTS OP FOBEST YEGETATIOX OX CLIMATE. 189 



fate. Ill eoncliisioii, may we not say with some authority that the 

 evidence set forth in this paper on our own vegetation is in 

 favour of the eucalyptus being a fever-destroying tree ?" — (JEssays," 

 Victorian Catalofjiie, Fliiladelpliia Centennial Exihition, 1876, ]). 

 87-91.) 



The Baron von Mueller also notices the properties of the 

 Mallee scrub with respect to water ("Fragments," ii. 57), where 

 he says, " Eadix horizontaliter longe procurrens largam aquae 

 j)ur?e copiam retineat." In another of his valuable publications 

 the Baron refers to Mr. Bosisto's experiments, and mentions also 

 his own recommendations to that gentleman in 1854 to distil 

 the eucalyptus oil, pointing out how greatly the growth of the 

 trees which oui* settlers cut down indiscriminately is now 

 encouraged and adopted in Europe, America, Africa, and New 

 Zealand. He points out the sanitary benefits arising from our 

 gum forests, shows how invigorating, as well as cheerful, is their 

 presence, in comparison with the treeless plains, and ends a most 

 delightful essay Avith these weighty expressions : " I regard the 

 forest as an heritage given to us by Nature, not for spoil or to 

 devastate, but to be wisely used, reverently honored, and care- 

 fully maintained. I regard the forests as a gift intrusted to any 

 of us only for transient care during a short space of time, to be 

 surrendered to posterity again as an unimpaired property, with 

 increased riches and augmented blessings, to pass as a sacred 

 patrimony from generation to generation. (" Forest Culture in 

 its relation to Industrial Pursuits": a Lecture delivered by Baron 

 Ferdinand von Mueller, CM. a., M.D., Ph. D., F.E.S., on 22nd 

 June, 1871.") \_See also Appendix No. 2.] 



In addition to the preceding remarks on the Mallee scrub, it 

 may be proper to mention that there is a very useful paper by 

 Mr. Cairns, in the Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of 

 Victoria (vol. III., 1858) on the Weir Mallee {a ic at er -yielding 

 tree) of Australia. This tree fully bears out all that has been 

 said above. It has been long known to the Aborigines, to the 

 early settlers, and to botanists, as capable of supplying, when the 

 roots have been cut to lengths of from 20 to 30 feet, and placed 

 upright in a vessel, a pint or quart of pure water, a wonderful 

 provision for thirsty wanderers in the bush. Mr. Eyre tells us 

 that during his fearful journey along the coast of the Australian 

 Bight in 1841, his two aboriginal lads procured him a third of a 

 pint of water in this manner in a quarter of an hour, and says 

 that " natives who, from infancy, have been accustomed to travel 

 through arid regions, can remain any length of time out in a 

 country where there are no indications of water." (Central 

 Expeditions into Australia, by Edward John Eyre, vol. I., p. 350.] 



We are not however to conclude that all Eucalypti will be as 

 profitable as those mentioned ; but the facts are, I doubt not, as 

 stated. 



