EUCALYPTUS TREES. 141 



ant may learn to discriminate at once with exactness 

 between the different timber-trees, the grasses, the 

 plants worthy of ornamental culture, or any others 

 possessing industrial or cultural interest. The saw- 

 yer, as well as the trader in timber, may learn how 

 many of the one hundred and forty Australian Eu- 

 calypts occur within his reach — how phytography 

 designates each of them by a specific appellation ac- 

 knowledged all over the globe. Phytologic inquiry, 

 aided by collateral sciences, will disclose to him before- 

 hand the rules for obtaining the wood at the best sea- 

 sons, for selecting it for special purposes, for securing 

 the best preservation. Phyto-chemistry will explain 

 to him what average percentage of potash, oils, tar, 

 vinegar, alcohol, tannic acid, etc., may be obtained 

 under ordinary circumstances from each. He will 

 understand, for instance, that the so-called Red Gum- 

 tree of Victoria, the one so famed for the durability 

 of its wood and for the peculiar medicinal astringency 

 of its gum-resin, is widely different from the tree of 

 that vernacular named in "Western Australia ; that it 

 is wanting in Tasmania, yet that it has an extensive 

 geographic range over the interior of our continent ; 

 and that thus the experiences gained on the products 

 of this particular species of tree by himself or others 

 are widely applicable elsewhere. Through collections 

 of these kinds the thoughtful colonist may have his 

 attention directed to vegetable objects of great value 

 in his own locality, of the existence of which he 

 might otherwise not readily become aware. New 

 trades may spring up, new exports may be initiated, 

 new local factories be established. Phytographic 

 works on Australian plants, now e^^ tant in many vol- 



