257 



The most recent writer on the subject is A. D. Hardy, of the State Forest 

 Department of Victoria (" The Tall Trees of Australia," Vict. Nat.,xxxv, 46, July, 1918), 

 an authority whose researches in regard to Australian forestry matters are always 

 valuable, and, therefore, one reads what he has to say with interest in regard to a subject 

 which has already been surrounded by much romance. This romance, emanating 

 from Australia itself, has found its way into scientific publications in Europe and 

 America. 



The paper contains some most useful information in regard to the giant trees 

 of America, and, indeed, of other countries, but what is of special interest to me at the 

 present time is the information he has brought together, additional to that already 

 compiled by myself. At p. 50 Mr. Hardy quotes three measurements which exceed 

 those enumerated in the Victorian atlas of giant trees. The following is the " best 

 measurement by a legally qualified measurer." Mr. G. Cornthwaite measured a tree 

 in 1880, 2 miles from Thorpdale, Gippsland. " I cannot find the old notes taken 

 at the time, but I am quite sure as to the measurement of the length." He gives the 

 height at 375 feet, allowing for the stump. " At about 12 feet from the ground (it) 

 was about 6 feet in diameter." 



Although these figures are to some extent based on memory, if they satisfy 

 Mr. Hardy they go a long way towards satisfying me. 



Mr. Hardy quotes some American Sequoias, larger than the Redwood 

 (S. sempervirens) measured by Professor C. S. Sargent, at 340 feet. Doubtless after 

 the war (written in 1918, J.H.M.) the Americans will examine their records of measure- 

 ments and state whether they can beat our record of 375 feet or not. 



As regards bulk, Mr. Hardy quotes the tree pictured as " King Edward VII " 

 by Mr. Hugh Mackay, Conservator of Forests of Victoria, in the handbook of that State 

 prepared for the British Association meeting of 1914. It had a girth of 80 feet, measured 

 at about 10 feet from the ground. 



I have often pointed out (e.g., Presidential Address, Royal Society of N.S.W., 

 1897), that it is desirable that we should have measurements by surveyors or other 

 competent observers of the heights and girths of definite Eucalyptus trees, and the 

 ascertainment of such data should be the business of the forestry staffs of all the States. 

 We ought to know the sizes of our primeval vegetation, even if these biggest trees, 

 when removed by fire or other catastrophe, may never be succeeded by others which 

 can be permitted to attain equal magnitude. 



Instead of going further into details in regard to the sizes of the largest trees, 

 it may be convenient to consult the following list of species, arranged in alphabetical 

 order, in which the sizes are dealt with. Thus the following may be referred to in their 

 proper places in the present work, and in my " Forest Flora of New South Wales " : — 



Eucalyptus Andrewsi Maiden, E. botryoides Sm. (H. Hopkins records E. botryoides 

 in the rich alluvial flats of the Snowy River, stately trees of 150 feet or more in height, 

 and boles of 6 or 7 feet in diameter, and 50 or 60 feet to the first limb), E. Dahympleana 



