THE EXHIBITION OF 1862. 185 
logs ancl planks of timber, and pass on to a subject of deep 
interest in this colony. 
“ These enormous, blooming apples and pears/-’ we ask, “ are 
they indigenous ? ” 
“ They are wax models of fruits which have been introduced 
from the mother-country, so you may judge of the prolific 
nature of our vegetation. Our cereals, too, ai’e magnificent.” 
(By the way, to judge from the praises bestowed upon their 
cereals by the representatives of all our colonies, we need 
never stand in fear of a famine at home.) And, certainly, the 
specimens exhibited to us fully bear out this designation, for 
the ears of wheat and Indian corn seem bursting with their 
contents. 
But our time and space will soon be exhausted if we tarry 
here any longer, so let us glance hastily at these excellent 
photographs of unprepossessing aborigines ; then we will cast 
a wistful eye over the beautiful jewellery exhibited by our 
courteous guide, Dr. Milligan, — jewellery which testifies to the 
wealth of the colony in precious stones ; for here we have the 
topaz, jacinth, cairngorm (magnificent specimens !) crystals, 
carnelian, garnet, and opal; and let us finally conclude our 
visit with an expression of admiration at the ingenuity of our 
Tasmanian brethren in barking their trees and, instead of 
throwing away the bark, preparing it for the market, and 
offering it at £4. 10s. per ton for the manufacture of 
paper ! 
Adieu, now, to Tasmania, and greeting to Victoria,* as we 
pass through it to the courts of the Australian continent. 
Passing on to the New South Wales Court, we find several 
interesting productions of the colony, some indigenous and 
others introduced and cultivated there. There is, for example, 
the beautiful maize-plant (Zea Mays), standing eight feet in 
height, and the corn from which is the most conspicuous 
amongst the different kinds of grain. The other chief pro- 
ducts of the soil, of which specimens are exhibited, are wheat, 
tobacco, cotton, and a collection of woods not second to those 
in “ Tasmania.” Here, too, we have handsome pieces of 
furniture, and one beautiful cabinet, constructed of polished 
cedar, is remarkably conspicuous. 
But the most interesting feature in this court is to be found 
amongst the animal productions, more especially in the appli- 
cation of that useful animal the kangaroo ; and we venture 
to say that few Englishmen are aware of its full value to the 
colonist. 
* It was in an unfinished state when we visited it, and the description of 
its contents must be left to abler pens than ours. 
VOL. II, — NO. VI. 
O 
