278 



R. T. BAKER. 



barbed wire fence was attached to a Mangrove in 1895, prior to 

 our taking up the lease, this wire being stapled to the tree ; this 

 was found to be covered with the new growth of timber and to a 

 depth of 1 inch. The tree is certainly a long while in the growth, 

 and will live to an enormous age. As regards the side to the 

 water being softer, I find the Mangrove the same as other trees, 

 affected on the side exposed to the sun." 



Mr. Dick also informs me in a later letter : — 



" I duly received your letter re the age and rate of growth of 

 what I call the ' Grey Mangrove.' In reference to the rate of 

 growth, I can only state as before, and that is, that the tree as 

 far as we have found it to grow on this river, is slow in its growth. 

 I planted a large quantity, or should say transplanted them, in a 

 very suitable piece of bottom, and I am going to photograph the 

 rows of trees for you, and will send them down. The trees so far 

 have not averaged one foot per year in height. I have asked a 

 number of people about the growth, and they all say the same — 

 very slow, practically not noticeable. Since starting to write, I 

 have ascertained that it is seven years that the trees have been 

 growing." (Plate XLV, figure 19.) 



These data certainly illustrate a much slower growth 

 than that recorded for Indian species, and certainly give 

 colour to my contention that here we have a distinct species 

 from that one. I have visited this locality and examined 

 the latter trees above mentioned, and endorse all Mr. Dick's 

 remarks as regards them. I found that they measured five 

 feet in height and three inches in diameter at the base. — 

 a great disappointment to the oyster cultivator, who 

 planted them as a help in the industry. I have also 

 examined a large number of trees fipm which the aborigines 

 cut their shields very many years ago, and in every 

 instance only the very slightest growth had taken place 

 wherever shields had been cut, in fact, except that the 

 face from which the shields had been taken, was a little 

 weathered, the actual size of the shield would probably 



