BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 123 



From this point therefore I determined on returning to Cape Eiche 

 by a more southerly route, for the purpose of intercepting and examin- 

 ing any rivers or streams that might fall into the coast. 



(To be conti7iuecl.) 



BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



First General Report of the Government Botanist^ Dr. F. Muller, on 

 the Vegetation of the Colony of Victoria, in Australia; com- 

 municated by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Chief Secretary for 



the Colonies. 



[We cannot too highly appreciate the service rendered to Botanical 

 Science by Mr. La Trobe, late Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, in this 

 appointment of so able and indefatigable a Botanist as Dr, Miillerj to 

 the office in question ; and we can only hope that his example will be 

 followed by other Colonial Governors, and with an equal prospect of 

 usefulness. — Ed.] 



Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 5th September, 1853, 



SiK, — In obedience to His Excellency's command, I have the 

 honour to transmit to you ray General Report, partly compiled from 

 those documents which I forwarded on several occasions during my 

 journey, from February until June last, and partly resting on the sub- 

 sequent examination of the specimens which I brought home. 



Before I enter into any details on the classification of our indige- 

 nous vegetable world, on its* relation in comparison with the plants of 

 the adjacent countries, and on the practical uses to which we might 

 possibly apply many of its productions, it may be considered necessary 

 to delineate the route which I pursued during my last expedition. 



I proceeded, at first, with deviations from the usual road wherever it 

 appeared favourable for my pursuits, to Putter's Eange, which presents, 

 like some otber granitic mountains in its vicinity, a host of very pecu- 

 liar plants. Thence I directed my course to May Day Hills, from 

 which place I advanced, after a brief stay, to the Buffalo Ranges, where 

 I ascended Mount Aberdeen and another peak more than 4,000 feet 



tpical 



the rivers rising in the mountains. 



this 



