EUCALYPTUS TREES. 143 



the greater part of the Australian continent, where- 

 ever water supply could be commanded, the rice 

 would luxuriate. I found it wild in Arnheim's Land 

 in 1855. Of sugar - cane the hardier varieties may 

 within Victoria succeed in East Gipps Land and 

 other warmer spots. Great Britain imported in 1863 

 not less than five hundred and eighty-six thousand 

 six hundred tons.* Even our young colony import- 

 ed last year to the value of nearly a million sterling 

 (£948,329). Think of the commerce in other vegeta- 

 ble products, such as require in different places our 

 local fostering care in order to add still more to our 

 resources. Of various tobaccos we imported into 

 Victoria in 1869 (deducting exports) to the value of 

 X83,788; of wine, £84,687; of cereals, £781,250; of 

 paper, £123,158. I will not enter on any remarks 

 about sugar-beet, on which one of our fellow-colonists 

 has lately compiled an excellent treatise. Of tea, in 

 1865, Britain required for home consumption eighty- 

 flve millions of Ibs.f What a prospect for tea growth 

 in Victoria, where this bush cares neither for the 

 scorching heat of the Summer nor for the night-frosts 

 of our lower regions ; whereas, in the forest glens of 

 our country, Tasmania, and elsewhere, the Tea-bush 

 would yield most prolific harvests. Test plantations 

 for manifold new cultures were recommended by me 

 years ago in one of my ofiicial reports to the Legisla- 



*" The total Import of BUgar into Britain was, during 1868, six hundred and 

 twenty-Bix thouBnnd three hundred and one tons ; during 1869, six hundred 

 and five thousend one hundred and twenty-nine tons.'* 



t The total import of tea into Britain was — 



During 186S 121,156.712 lbs. 



• • 1866 139,610044 " 



.' 1867 128,028,736 " 



" 1868 164,846,863 " 



f 1869, „.„,.,, „..,.,,..,, ,..., 139,283,398 " 



