fiUCAtVfTtfS TREES. l9§ 



however, in their stupendous altitude, but also in 

 their celerity of growth, we have, in all probability, 

 to accede to Australian trees the prize. Extensive 

 comparisons instituted in the Botanic Garden of this 

 metropolis prove several species of Eucalyptus, more 

 particularly Eucalyptus globulus, and Ecalyptus obli- 

 qua, as well as certain Acacias — for instance. Acacia 

 decurrens, or Acacia moUissima — far excelling in their 

 ratio of development any extra- Australian trees, even 

 on dry and exposed spots, such into which spontane- 

 ously our Blue Gum-tree would not penetrate. This 

 marvellous quickness of growth, combined with a 

 perfect fitness to resist drought, has rendered many 

 fff our trees famed abroad, especially so in countries 

 where the supply of fuel or of hard woods is not read- 

 ily attainable, or where for raising shelter, like around 

 the Cinchona-plantations of India, the early and copi- 

 ous command of tall vegetation is of imperative im- 

 portance. To us here this ought to be a subject of 

 manifold significance. I scarcely need refer to the 

 f^ct that for numerous unemployed the gathering of 

 Eucalyptus-seeds, of which a pound weight suffices 

 to raise many thousand trees, might be a source of 

 lucrative and extensive employment ; but on this I 

 wish to dwell : that in Australian vegetation we prob- 

 ably possess the means of obliterating the rainless zone 

 of the globe, to spread at last woods over our deserts, 

 and thereby to mitigate the distressing drought, 

 and to annihilate, perhaps, even that occasionally ex- 

 cessive dry heat evolved by the sun's rays from the 

 naked ground throughout extensive regions of the 

 interior, and wafted with the current of air to the 

 east and south — miseries from which the prevalence 



