228 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Accordingly I addressed on the subject, in April, 

 1885, Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, Government Botanist, 

 Melbourne, Victoria, and invited his kind help and 

 co-operation in the matter of the supply of such seeds 

 as he might deem most likely to succeed in Gambia, 

 and generally along West Tropical Africa. 



I entertained and expressed doubts whether any 

 species of Eucalyptus had been successfully found to 

 answer in swampy ground somewhat affected by the 

 tide, and consequently by salt water. 



Sir Ferdinand Mueller secured and supplied 

 a collection of fresh seeds of such Eucalypts as 

 deserved trial — culture in Gambia as could be procured 

 at the time of the receipt of my letter. 



As regards the saline nature of the ground water in 

 many parts of the Gambia, as elsewhere in Western 

 Africa, he remarked " that all Eucalypts are shy to' 

 brackish soil, but doubtless many localities in Gambia 

 would still be available for the culture of these 

 important trees." 



To provide timber and fuel for places where 

 humidity is saline. Sir Ferdinand continued, " it will 

 be best to choose species of Melaleuca, a few of 

 which will grow in brackish water, for instance M. 

 Lencadendron, M. ericifolia, M. linearifolia. Of these 

 I will procure seeds purposely and send them for 

 transmission to the Honourable the Chief Secretary 

 here. 



"The Melaleucas, like the Eucalypts, have great 



