25 



" This tree attains a height of 200 feet, with a trunk 6 feet 

 " in diameter. Growth in height at Port Philip 30 to 40 feet 

 " in twenty years. The timber is fine grained strong and durable 

 "if not exposed to wet and dry influences ; it is susceptible of 

 "a high polish, and thus competes with satin-wood, and in some 

 " respects with birdseye maple. Value in Brisbane £2 15s. to 

 " £3 10s. per 1,000 superficial feet. The tree grows on alluvial 

 " banks as well as on rugged mountains, overtopping all other 

 " trees. Araucarias should be planted by the million in fever 

 " regions of tropical countries for hygienic purposes, on account 

 " of their antiseptic exhalations. " 



Our tree planted at the same time as A. Bidwillii is now 

 90 feet in height, and 5 feet in girth at 6 feet from the base. Of 

 A. excelsa, Baron Mueller says : 



" A magnificent tree of unsurpassed symmetry, sometimes 

 " to 220 feet high, with a stem attaining 10 feet in diameter, 

 " and with regular tiers of absolutely horizontal branches, one 

 " for each year. The timber is useful for shipbuilding and 

 "many other purposes. Growth in height at Port 1'hillip 

 " about 40 feet in 20 years. With A. Cunninghami amenable 

 " to almost any soil, except a saline one, and not subject to 

 " any disease. Endures also the viscissitudes of the clime of 

 " lower Egypt. 



Our tree planted at the same time as A. Bidwillii is now 

 80 feet in height and 3 feet 9 inches in girth at 5 feet from the 

 base. Of A. Cookii Baron Muller says : 



" New Caledonia where it forms large forests. Height of 

 " tree to 200 feet. Habit and technical value similar to those of 

 " A. excelsa. Growth at Port Phillip not quite 30 feet in 20 

 "years." 



The tree of A. Cookii planted at the same time as the 

 others is now 90 feet in height and 6 feet in girth at 6 feet 

 from the base. We have a large number of plants of all of these 

 trees except A. excelsa, and it is to be regretted that more of 

 them have not been planted, especially in the coast districts, 

 and it is quite possible that in a soil more humid than that of 

 the Botanic Gardens, that they might succeed even better than 

 they have done with us. 



Dammarq anstralis. "Kauri Pine." 



Baron Mueller says of this tree : 



" This magnificent tree measures under favourable circum- 

 " stances, 180 feet in height and exceptionally 17 feet in 

 "diameter of trunk; the estimated but over rated age of such 



