EUCALYPTUS TEEES. 107 



our ranges, would be rendered saleable at a central 

 sumach mill.* The demand for tea being so enor- 

 mous, and geographic latitudes like ours being those 

 which allow of its growth, it will be fully apparent 

 that it must assume a prominent part in our future 

 rural economy, particularly as the return for capital 

 and labor thus invested and expended will be quite 

 as early as that from the vine. The importation of 

 tea into Victoria, during 1870, has been valued in 

 the customs returns at £496,623 ; whereas Victoria 

 might largely export this highly important and remu- 

 nerative commodity. 



The simple process of gathering the leaves might 

 be performed by children. 



In the foregoing pages I alluded cursorily to the 

 Cork Oak ; let me add my opinion, that in any local- 

 ity with natural boundaries, such as abrupt sides of 

 ranges, deep water - courses, where fences could be 

 largely obviated, the Cork-tree might well be planted 

 as a forest-tree, and thus estates be established at lit- 

 tle cost, with hardly any expense of maintenance, 

 from which a periodic yield of cork might be obtained 

 for several successive generations. The investment 

 of a limited capital for raising a cork-forest in any 

 naturally-defined locality would, as I said, create a 

 rich possession for bequest. Even if by new inven- 

 tions an artificial substitute for cork was found, the 

 wood of the Cork Oak would still be of some value. 

 The State might also reserve any forest area with 

 natural boundaries for its various wood requirements. 



*Anes8ay by ProfeBBorlnzengtt, on Sumach-culture in Sicily, translated 

 by Colonel H. Yule, 0. B., is published in the Transactions of the Botanic 

 Society of Edinburgh, vol. ix., 341-355, an4 was, on ray suggestion, trans. 

 teised to a local jocirual, 



