EUCALYPTUS TREES. 203 



In closing these concise and somewliat cliaotic sug- 

 gestions, which scarcely admit of methodical arrange- 

 ment, unless by expansion into the chapters of a vol- 

 ume, we may — indulging in a train of thought— pass 

 from special to general considerations. 



Belgium, one of the most densely populated of all 

 countries, and yet one of the most prosperous, nourish- 

 ed within an area less than one half that of Tasmania 

 a population three times exceeding that of all the 

 Australian colonies ; yet one fifth of the Belgian ter- 

 ritory consists of forests. Not to any considerable 

 eitent smaller than Europe, our continent is likely to 

 support in ages hence a greater population ; because, 

 while here no frigid zone excludes any portion of the 

 territory from productiveness, or reduces it anywhere 

 to very circumscribed limits, it embraces a wide trop- 

 ical tract, destined to yield us products nowhere to be 

 raised under the European sky. The comparatively 

 unbroken uniformity of vast tracts of Australia cer- 

 tainly restricts us for the magnificent sceneries and 

 the bracing air of the countries of our youth here to 

 the hilly coast-tracts ; but still we have not to endure 

 the protracted colds of middle and northern European 

 Winters, nor to contend with the climatic diiHculties 

 which beset tillage operations or pastoral pursuits, 

 and which, by patient perseverance, could not be 

 removed or be materially lessened. 



While we are deprived of advantages so pleasing 

 and so important as those of large river communica- 

 tions, we enjoy great facilities for land traffic, facili- 

 ties to which every new discovery of coal-layers will 

 add. 



