PHANEROGAMIC FLORA OP QUEENSLAND. 
399 
indigenous fruits, I am induced to extend somewhat this concluding 
paragraph upon the subject. The first object to have in view must be 
the improvement of the Iruit, both with regard to size, productiveness, 
and flavour. The general austerity of even the best will have to be 
greatly reduced before we xuay hope that they will be received into 
cultivation. The first steps towards attaining' these results will be a 
careful selection of the fruits from which to raise the first plants 
to experiment with, after which careful cultivation and further 
selection must be carried out under intelligent direction. Even by 
these means there is reason to hope that much may be achieved 
before resorting to cross-fertilisation. And this leads me to 
remind those who would experiment with our indigenous kinds of 
V ltis that when referring to the wonders accomplished by the 
American fruit-growers in regard to the wild grapes of America, 
we must remember that the species which they (the Americans) 
have operated iipon are much more closely allied to the grape of 
cultivation m Europe, / itis vinifera , than those representing the 
genus in Australia. All ours belong to those formerly placed by 
botanists under a separate genus, named Cissus, differing as widely 
from the true Yitis as the American genus Ampelopsis, which the 
botanists of the present time also place under Yitis. 1 only make 
these remarks to show that the American had fewer difficulties 
to contend with m improving the character of his native grapes 
than tall to tlie lot of the Australian experimentalist. Yet there 
is no reason why we should be disheartened or dissuaded from 
tins work, but for our encouragement look back upon the changes 
which have been wrought by human agenev, both in the animal 
and vegetable kingdom— changes which baffle belief. My advice 
with regard to improving our indigenous grape fruit is— first, that 
caret ul selection and cultivation be carried on; then cross-fertili- 
sation with the improved forms so obtained between themselves, 
and afterwards with the American and European varieties. Another 
important use to which these forms and varieties might be put is that 
ot stocks on which to graft or bud the approved kinds which we 
desire to multiply. It is impossible to over-estimate the value of a 
strong, healthy stock Plants may be found to exist upon a number 
of others which may be related to them, but if you would have them 
t une the} must be furnished with healthy roots, and plants unsuited 
to the climate are never really healthy, either root or branch. I 
would, therefore, wherever such is possible, recommend that indigenous 
plants be used for stocks. In this I must be understood as referring 
particularly to Queensland. No part of Australia is so trying to 
exotic plant life. At times we are subject to long droughts, when the 
country becomes for months, or perhaps years, little better than a 
barren waste, during winch the roots or seeds of the indigenous plants 
remain dormant or die out altogether. At other times there is a 
superabundance ot ram, and the ground becomes saturated for a 
lengthened period. Such extremes, it will be seen, are most trying to 
plants ot more regular climates ; therefore many exotics are found to 
succumb, usually more from the wet than the drought, from the root- 
cells at such times absorbing more liquid than could be utilised. 
tnto I™ ^ W ° U r !f 6ln 1 1 nCUmbont u P° n us ’ wh erever practicable, to 
take advantage of the indigenous plants for stocks, for by so doing 
