156 Excursion to Loch Valley. [y^,' 



ct. Nat. 

 XXXVl. 



making a round trip of about twelve miles of as fine scenery 

 as one could wish to see. We reached " Braesidc " about 

 4 p.m. like the proverbial drowned rats ; however, as each had 

 a change of clothing available, no one seemed to suffer, and, 

 though uncomfortable, the rain was perhaps better than the 

 blazing hot day which one might expect at that time of year. 

 It took all our attention to get boots and clothes dry for use 

 on Sunday, which was again showery ; however, three ventured 

 out in the afternoon and visited the Latrobe vallev, getting 

 about three miles up-stream from the bridge. A timber tram 

 is now being constructed from Noojee, which w'ill reach within 

 about eight miles of Powelltown, so that when completed 

 Noojee can be reached via Yarra Junction in about seventy 

 miles as against ninety miles via Warragul. Led l^y an 

 adventurous spirit, we tried to keep close to the Latroix' on 

 our return, but the ground was too swampy, and we had to 

 keep to the tram. Fine King Ferns and the Strap Fern, 

 Lomaria Pater soni, grew in this part, and some nice seedlings 

 were secured. Our visit to Loch Valley was nearly over, and 

 by half-past eight on Monday morning we had started on the 

 return journey. The train did not leave till 3 p.m., but, by 

 starting early, we were able to walk along the line over the 

 great viaducts as far as Nayook, and then across to the Glen, 

 about a mile distant, spend a couple of hours there, and catch 

 the train at Nayook .at 4 p.m. The Glen is almost unique. 

 From our flying visit it seems to be about half a mile long and 

 a couple of hundred yards wide, little larger than the Sher- 

 brooke Falls glen, but deeper. It is crammed full of tree-ferns, 

 beeches, sassafras, Hedycarya, &c., and is a truly lovely spot, 

 My fear is that, as the surrounding hillsides become cleared, 

 the hot winds will get into it, and the vegetation will gradually 

 lose its vitality. Two plants attracted our attention here — 

 the rare climber, Fieldia aiistralis, N.O. Gesneraceae (the order 

 to which the garden Gloxinia belongs) — unfortunately, it was 

 out of bloom, but we f-ound a large white fruit ; and the fern 

 DavaJlia pyxidata. The latter was quite new to me. The 

 Glen is a public reserve, and paths have been made through 

 it, while a shelter pavilion, look-out, and fire-places have been 

 provided. Of course, no one is allowed to touch the vegeta- 

 tion, but it is a great pity the reserve docs not contain fifty 

 acres instead of only five. The home journe}' was made under 

 good conditions, and we separated, trusting that ere long Loch 

 Valley would see us again. One of the party, who devoted 

 himself to trout fishing when the weather permitted, reported 

 favourably on the Loch as a trout stream. — F. G. A. Barnard. 



