112 FOBEST CtJLTUEE AKD 



have conjointly sent over one million bushels to mar- 

 ket in 1870. The yield, it is said, is from eighty to 

 one hundred and twenty bushels on an acre. The 

 seeds are slightly roasted for the table, or pressed for 

 a palatable oil. As much as ten shillings to twelve 

 shillings is paid for the bushel in New York. The 

 plant seems well eligible for forest-farms, particularly 

 in a somewhat calcareous soil. In the garden under 

 my control I have reared it with ease. 



I intended to have spoken of the various imple- 

 ments especially designed for wood-culture; but time 

 will not admit of it. Thus, merely by way of exam- 

 ple, I place before you one of those utensils — the 

 hohlborer, or, as it might be called, the " bore-spade " 

 — brought into use nearly fifty years ago by a scientific 

 forester. Dr. Heyer, of Giessen. Several thousand 

 plants of the Scotch Fir and of other pines can be lifted 

 with this bore-spade in a day by one forest laborer, 

 the object being that each seedling should retain a 

 small earth-ball, to facilitate the success of the mov- 

 ing process. About ten thousand such seedlings are 

 convej'ed at a time in a forest wagon.* 



And yet, it must be confessed, our colony, with 

 others in the Australian group, has accomplished but 

 very little in any branch of sylvan maintenance, or 

 forest culture, or the advance of industrial pursuits 

 in our woodlands. 



One precursory step, however, has been made, and 

 this is likely to be followed. I allude to the exten- 

 sive gratuitous distribution of plants to public grounds 

 in most parts of our colony — a distribution which has 

 I een in operation under the authority of Government 



* Since this lecture was delivered a ehort nceouut of the bore-epade has 

 appeared in the Melbonme Economist, r - ~ 



