632 FOREST RENOVATION AT MOUNT MACEDON. [Feb. 



a weed is to be seen. The various plots are either filled with young 

 stuff, or, in a few instances, lying fallow, wliicli is found to be 

 necessary in the poor soil after a few years of tree-growing, when 

 the opportunity is taken of applying manure, and generally a crop 

 of potatoes is taken off, thus bringing the land into suitable condition 

 for another crop of trees. The manure used is a mixture of tree 

 leaves and stable dung, some of it being used in the first place for 

 hotbeds. In addition to the young trees in the ground, a large 

 number of the more select or delicate sorts are in pots, for which 

 purpose a number of frames with shades are used, besides several 

 with glazed sashes. One of the latter is filled with fine plants of 

 Cinchona Ledgcriana, the hardiest and best of the Peruvian barks. 

 A large number of American grape vines have been raised, the 

 species consisting of Vitus indivisa, mstivalis, cinerea, cordifolia, and 

 rupestris. There are plantations of Cork oak and the Valonia oak, 

 so valuable for tanning and dyeing ; also of the tea plant, but these 

 are not making much progress, probably requiring more moisture in 

 the soil. There are 600 plants of the Caialpa speciosa. a species 

 superior to C. hignonioidcs, the wood of which is almost indestructible. 

 Amongst the single specimens of ornamental trees, some of the 

 most striking and handsome are : — Abies firma (Japan), thriving, 

 7 feet tall; A. Nordmanniana, one of the best; A. Doiiglasii ; A. 

 Menziesii, which grows rapidly, has attained a height of 40 feet — 

 it is a grand tree ; A. Albcrtiana and A. canadensis — the hendock 

 spruces of California and Canada — are exceedingly graceful trees ; 

 A. Frascri and A. Mlsamca are very pretty ; A. Wchliana is 

 beautiful; A. Smithiana — Finns Khutrcnv, Eoyle — is a very hand- 

 some tree; Pinus Frcmontiana is a distinct species of rather loose habit; 

 P. pcdustris is quite unique — the specimen is believed to be the only 

 one of its kind in the colony, and it is remarkable for its long leaves; 

 P. tuhercukda, P. insignis, and others are now coning and producing 

 seed which is being utilized. Of the larch there are some beautiful 

 and vigorous specimens. Wellingtonias do exceedingly well, as also 

 their relatives the Sequoias. Araucaria hrasiliensis and A. imhricata 

 like the climate, one specimen of the latter having attained a height 

 of 15 feet. TImja Zohhi is forming a noble tree. Spanish chestnuts, 

 horse chestnuts, and the different species of Crata'gus are well 

 adapted to the climate. The native beech, Fagus Cunninghamii, 

 forms a graceful tree, very beautiful at this season, the young leaves 

 being tinted crimson. The rare Eucalyptus alpina is making good 

 growth and seems at home. The list of oaks is long, and includes 

 all the fine coloured-leaved species ; Quercus Skinncri is very free 

 and graceful. The Canadian elm is one of the best growers and 

 most handsome. Accrs also succeed^ including the common syca- 



