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200 REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST,
By your kind concession, Sir, I was enabled to spend in tlie begin-
ning of this year one week in, Tasmania, witli a view of adding, by
field observations and new collections, to the material of my works.
This journey (my first to the island) was to me replete with iaterest.
For although I had aided in the elucidation of the Tasmanian vegeta-
tion for more than twenty years from museum -plants, I had no oppor-
tunity until this year to observe the many higldand plants, absolutely
peculiar to the island, in their wild native grace. Moreover, I suc-
ceeded, within the brief time of my visit, in ascending Mount Field
East, about 5000 feet high, lying about halfway between Hobarton and
Macqiiarrie Harbour ; and as this mountain range and the shores of
Lake Fenton had not been subjected to any previous phytological in-
vestigation, it fell to my share to obtain copious novel information on
the distribution of the alpine plants of Tasmania. To contrast the
consociations of these and theii' geological relations with those of the
Australian Alps proved in a high degree instructive.
The Museum collections become more and more important, and
their value as a lastina; source of authentic information for centuries to
come can never be over-estimated. It remains, however, a source of
regret that no more amateur collectors • in far inland localities send
spontaneously plants, simply pressed and dried ;' by which means much
would be learnt additionally on the range of different species over the
continent, and their variation in form. The facilities for obtaining re-
liable information on any plants, always cheerfully given, might in the
future also not be equally great, nor the opportunities of literary record
always remain the same. If to the several hundred thousand plants in
the Museum still a collection couUl be added, rich in authentic speci-
mens, described in works during the earlier parts of this century, we
would then possess one of the grandest institutions for phytographic
research anywhere in existence.
The want of an appropriate hall, witli proper fittings, has prevented
special teaching by lectures in the Garden. But, as an illustrious
Professor of Natural Sciences also teaches phytology at the University,
it might be desirable to restrict any future occasional demonstrative
lectures in this place to those industrial phytological subjects, through
which science enters into the occupations of daily practical life, occupa-
tions of which many in this young country have still to be called forth.
It might be desirable, also, with a view of diffusing a vivid knowledge