41 
in Algeria and Southern Spain the trees are fit for barking before 
those grown in colder climes; fifteen to twenty years is the usual 
time before they are ready, and then in from eight to twelve years 
the trees may be rebarked, and this process can be renewed for 
150 years or more. I need hardly say that the inner layer, or 
what is called the “mother bark,” must not be injured, or the 
tree will fail to renew its bark, or perhaps may die. Napoleon III. 
did incalculable good by planting along the coast of the Bay of 
Biscay miles of this valuable tree, thereby draining a large tract 
of swampy and unhealthy country, making it a place fit to live 
in, and also causing it ultimately to become a source of profit. 
THE Vatonia Oak (Quercus Agilops) 
is a singularly beautiful and most valuable tree, a native of 
Southern Europe, from whence enormous quantities of the 
commercial article called “ Valonia” is exported to England. 
“Valonia” is the cups of the acorns produced by this tree. 
Although it is some time since this tree was first introduced into 
the colony, and attention drawn to its great value by Sir 
Ferdinand von Mueller and others, it is still scarce. ‘ 
Mr. Cunnack, of Castlemaine, and Mr. Wm. Lawrence, o 
South Yarra, have imported both plants and seeds of this oak, 
and J think it would well pay some of our enterprising Melbourne 
nurserymen to get out large quantities of both; a ready sale 
would be found among numerous gentlemen interested in tanning 
and the leather trade. There are some trees already seeding in 
the colony, and it is to be hoped that every acorn will be collected 
and sown. The tree is not a rapid grower, it is growing very 
slowly with me near the coast; but further north, and in warmer 
districts, the growth is more rapid. I may just add that the 
value of “ Valonia” consists in its giving a rich bloom to 
leather, a8 well as hardening it and making it less permeable to 
water. 
FRUIT-GROWING FOR Export. 
It is not my intention to more than just allude to this industry. 
There are gentlemen infinitely better qualified to speak on this 
most important subject than I, besides the matter is of too great 
moment to be dealt with in this paper. For the past two or 
three years we have been shipping to England considerable quan- 
tities of apples; a few pears, and other fruits. The results have 
varied, but there is no question that those growers and shippers 
who have carefully selected fine, sound, and good sized fruit, and 
have properly packed it, have been rewarded with excellent account 
sales, while others, less careful in the selection and the packing, 
have had most unsatisfactory returns, and serve them right too. 
Properly done, there is an immense future in the exportation of 
apples to England, and probably to many continental towns, to 
India, perhaps to Canada by the new route, and other places. 
