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Notes and Suggestions. (a) New South Wales (speaking of my own State only) 
would require to be subdivided into " regions " for the purpose of this Work. The 
various States have already been subdivided into various divisions for various require- 
ments, and the present work would result in climato-botanic divisions better defined 
than at present, and these would be of scientific value. Great Britain and Ireland 
are so divided, as I shall show presently. By having as observing stations those of the 
various meteorological workers, there will be provision for continuity of observations. 
(6) I have taken the flowering (first expansion of the flower) only, but it is obvious 
that other observations could be taken, though not so easily perhaps, e.g., unfolding 
(flushing) of new leaves, the ripening of the fruits. 
(c) If the flowering periods of all important plants, such as timber trees, were 
systematically recorded by competent observers, the results would have high scientific 
and practical value. But, as a rule, the number of plants selected would have to be 
limited, as already hinted. 
Practical Value. 
In a country like ours, science is greatly helped if she can point out the practical 
value of a suggested course of action to everyday people. In the present case I will 
indicate some advantages arising from a study of plant phenology. 
1. The Australian blacks on the coast are expert fishermen, and Mr. Edward Hill, who possesses 
much information on the subject, informs me that when the beautiful Waratah or Native Tulip blooms, 
it is a well-known sign to these children of Nature that the sole (a rare fish to be seen in the Sydney market, 
but of excellent flavour) is very abundant on the sandbanks about Botany Bay, and in the vicinity of 
Cook's River, where they may be captured at early dawn, before the ripple comes upon the water. Accord- 
ing also to the flowering season of other trees and shrubs, the blacks know the season when the mullet, 
schnapper, Port Jackson shark (Gestracion), or other fish are plentiful in the bays or harbours of the coast. 
This aspect of the subject could be followed up with fishermen and anglers, and 
the local evidence that they have got together as to the relations between the behaviour 
of plants and the migration and other habits of fish could be classified and checked. 
2. A good many bee-keepers make phenological records for their own convenience. 
For instance, Mr. G. H. Smith, of Recherche, Tasmania, showed me his records for many 
years. I learnt from him that Eucalyptus obliqua (Stringybark) and E. amygdalina 
(Peppermint) flower two years, and then are three years off i.e., they flower two years 
out of every five. E. globulus (Blue Gum) flowers every year, and so does Eucryphia 
Billardieri (Pinkwood). Mr. Andrew Murphy, a seed collector in New South Wales, 
told me that Angophora lanceolata (Smooth-barked Apple), Eucalyptus corymbosa 
(Bloodwood), and Eucalyptus dealbata (a Red Gum), and E. diversicolor (the West 
Australian Karri) all flower every other year. In the Report of the Royal Commission 
of Inquiry in Forestry (N.S.W.), 1908, at Part ii, p. 607, Mr. William Ager, bee-farmer, 
of Grafton, gives useful information in regard to the flowering period of the native 
trees, which is the more valuable since we have so few data. Indeed, the importance 
of the subject to bee-keepers is so important that I have dealt with the matter as a 
Section at p. 177. 
G 
