THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 184 
THE CULTIVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS. 
Discussion at Muerinc, December, 1919. 
Mr. E. Cheel, in opening the discussion stated that although 
there “were very many showy floriferous native plants well 
worthy of a prominent position in our private gardens, as well 
as in our public parks and gardens, there was not the demand 
for these as in the case of roses, carnations, dahlias, and many 
other imported plants, hence the nurserymen and seedsmen did 
not specialise in the native plants as in the exotics. In 
Great Britain, France, and the United States of America, there 
was a much keener demand for Australian plants. In Cali- 
fornia, for example, there was quite a brisk trade in Aus- 
tralian Wattles (Acacia). As far back as 1860, they were 
grown in pots and exhibited at agricultural fairs. It is on 
record that seeds of Acacia were imported from Australia in 
1854. In 1862 the seeds and plants of as many as 12 species 
of Australian acacias were catalogued for sale by nurserymen 
in San Francisco. They are still very popular in the United 
States, and in certain parts of Europe, and very high prices are 
paid for certain species, the most favored being Acacia pube- 
scens. This latter species is a native of Bankstown and Lid- 
combe distriet, and is very beautiful, both as regards foliage as 
well as when in flower. In South Africa. certain Australian 
Acacias ‘are cultivated fairly extensively for tan-bark and for 
shelter belts, sand binding, and for fuel. It is on record that 
in 1891 about 1600 Ib. of Acacia seed were sown or distributed 
to the public. It is estimated that between 1888 .and 1889 not 
less than 20,000 Ib. of seed of various species was distri- 
buted- to planters in South Africa. 
Many people are under the impression that our Australian 
plants are difficult to cultivate. This is not so, for we find 
quite a number are easily raised from seed, and others are 
easily propagated from cuttings. Our native fuchsia (Correa 
speciosa and C, alba) were cultivated many years ago in Eng- 
land, and coloured drawings made and published in the Botani- 
cal Magazine, where it is stated that “cuttings strike root quite 
easily.’ Mr. Cheel has raised plants by striking cuttings of Cal- 
listemon viminalis, a fairly popular Bottle-brush tree, in pri- 
yate gardens in the North Shore suburbs, and also in the 
Western Suburbs. He has also raised some fine hybrid Bottle- 
brush plants that are a credit to the Botanic Gardens.. Mr. 
