6 
attained by experiments on rabbits, that Burchardia umbellata and Anguillaria aus- 
tralis, although belonging to the melanthaceous and therefore partly poisonous tribe 
of Liliacese, contain no noxious principles in their tuberous roots. In the search for 
salep in the tubers of our terrestrial Orchidese the common Microtis porrifolia gave the 
best, indeed highly satisfactory, results. In drying, the roots of this species evolve 
a slight violet odor, and ten grains of the dry powder produces one ounce of good 
pale mucilage, free of bitterness. The tubers of Thelymitra aristata, although still richer 
in mucilage, are slightly bitter and of brownish tinge. As yet, but few of the numerous 
Orchids of Victoria are examined in this respect, as these tests came to a perfect 
close ; but the few kinds of Pterostylis tubers experimented on proved inferior to 
those of Microtis. 
Among the articles sent to the last London Exhibition, the Eucalyptus tars, also 
potash from the Eucalypts, various fibres, including those of some common rushes 
and grasses, the material for superior paper to supplement the supply of rags and 
sparta, and many other native products, will be early destined to add to our exports, 
as already explained years ago in my lectures on forest industries, objects of botanic 
gardens and application of phytology to the practical purposes of life ; which lectures 
are perhaps deserving, for promotion of new rural engagements, to reappear in a new 
edition. The value of the cajeput-oil of our Eucalypts and allied trees was 
explained in my first report to the Legislative Council of this colony as far back as 
1853 (at page 6), in which document already many other of our future resources 
were distinctly indicated or foreshadowed amidst the agitations of the earliest gold 
times. 
The persevering ingenuity and the intelligent application of capital of one 
gentleman, Joseph Bosisto, Esq., of Richmond, have raised the production of various 
kinds of Eucalyptus oil to a flourishing industry, though in first instance indicated or 
called forth by the labors of my own department. So we have other mercantile 
commodities, the value of which I foresaw, and the recognition of which, here and 
abroad, I always aided, not only by departmental but also unofficial efforts. Thus it 
was in the Botanic Garden of Melbourne, and there only, where Mons. Kamel 
became, twenty years ago, first acquainted with the Eucalyptus globulus, and where 
this enlightened and patriotic gentleman could recognise its celerity of growth and its 
resistance to dry heat, the quality of its timber being then already known. Hence arose, 
for many years under almost my sole aid, M. Kamel's introduction of this tree and 
several other Eucalypts to South France and Algeria, while by unceasing efforts on my 
part, under much discouragement and adversity, I endeavoured to do my public duty 
also in this direction towards my adopted country, by finding for the Eucalypts, first of 
all in numerous species (140 now being known, irrespective of what may exist in 
Eastern New Guinea), a place in many countries of both hemispheres. The medicinal 
experiments, especially as regards the value of these trees, through therapeutic and 
climatic action, in intermittent fevers, their antiseptic properties and other qualities for 
hygienic purposes, were instituted in fever regions of various parts of South Europe 
and South America, of which we are happily almost free ; and this mainly on material 
from trees, for the early introduction of which into these countries I was instrumental 
myself while performing the duties of my office, or while promoting scientific research 
out of private and but slender means. Exertions like these have much brought about 
the extensive exports of Eucalyptus seeds, increasing from year to year, to any places 
of the world free of severe frosts and free of intense damp heat ; the way for this, 
like in other instances, was paved by extensive correspondence in several languages, 
by manifold literary writings, by active co-operation in exhibitions, ever since 1854, 
bv interchanges for test culture, by oral explanations of almost daily occurrence, and 
finally by unsparing application of any private resources of my own. In the benefits, 
which hence have arisen to us here, also the surrounding colonies have long since 
participated. Our Industrial City-Museum contains samples of many technologic 
products furnished by my department, such as new and various paper material, fibres, 
fixed and distilled oils, native potash, soda, dyes, tars, acetic wood acid, wood alcohol, 
bromine, iodine and many other substances from native material, still lying latent, 
though extant in boundless quantity ; yet, as may be imagined, all these exhibit only 
very fragmentary the resources of our indigenous vegetable wealth, not to speak of 
the commercial and industrial articles which can be obtained, either by direct yield or 
by the application of chemical or industrial processes, from the almost endless number 
ot foreign plants calculated to prosper under the Australian sky. In order, therefore, 
