12 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
say that not two dozen of these plants are yet in 
general cultivation in Australia. But fortunately 
this conditions of affairs is gradually passing away. 
The teaching of Nature Study in schools, the holding 
of Nature Study Exhibitions, the increased attention 
being given in our Botanic and Public Gardens to the 
cultivating and segregating in groups of our native 
flora, the propaganda work of Forest Leagues and 
Wattle Day Leagues are all helping to popularise our 
native flowers. It is therefore pleasing to note, as a 
result, that many nurserymen are increasing their 
stock and variety of these plants, and thus by their 
catalogues and in other ways, making many desir- 
able plants available to the public that were pre- 
viously quite unprocurable. 
In this connection, it is not out of place to men- 
tion the splendid work which is being carried out by 
the Government Schools’ Horticultural Society. This 
Society controls the distribution of seeds and plants 
to the schools, and in the season 1913, in addition to 
its various other activities, the Society distributed 
over five thousand packets of seeds of native plants 
to the schools enrolled on its lists. 
I have not dealt with the possibilities that might 
result from the hybridisation of our flora. There is 
not the least doubt that a magnificent field is all 
ready for the man who has the time and who will 
take the opportunity at hand for that interesting task. 
Already one grower has proved the possibilities in 
this direction by largely improving some of the Gre- 
villeas by hybridisation. This work will give sure 
results. 
