1892.] 1.55 



and when it is once fairly established, the long creeping roots render 

 its extirpation almost impossible. Most of the English fruits thrive 

 to perfection, especially the apple ; but this tree has brought with it 

 the " codlin moth " {Carpocapsa jpomonella, L.), which is far more in- 

 jurious to the crop than at home, and the "Codlin Moth Act," provided 

 for its destruction, is strictly enforced. 



Much of the country round about Hobart is still covered with 

 the natural "bush," and the slopes of Mount Wellington, up to about 

 2500 feet, are clothed with a fine forest growth, in which the varied 

 and beautiful Tasmanian flora is seen to great advantage. This forest 

 has a somewhat sombre aspect from a distance, as it is mainly composed 

 of three species of Eucalyptus — the " blue gum," ^. globulus, Lab. ; 

 the " stringy bark," JE. ohliquus, L'Her. ; and the " peppermint," U. 

 amygdalinus, Lab. All these attain gigantic dimensions, trees of more 

 than 200 feet in height and ten in diameter being common, and there 

 are many of even larger size. These are varied, especially in the 

 valleys, by clumps of the beautiful and fragant " sassafras," Athero- 

 sperma moscJiatmn, Lab., an elegant little tree of the natural Order 

 Monimiacece, the leaves of which, when bruised, have a strong and very 

 pleasant nutmeg-like scent ; and of the native beech, Fagus Cunning- 

 hami, Hook., which grows to a large size, and is locally known as the 

 " myrtle," from its small glossy evergreen foliage. The undergrowth, 

 which in many parts is very dense, consists chiefly of Acacias of several 

 species, fine shrubby or arborescent Co?npositcd {Olearia, Ozothamnus, 

 Bedfordia, &c.), ButacecB (Gorrea, Zieria or "stink-wood "), the "native 

 pear " {Rahea), and " native cherry " {Exocarpus), both very unsatis- 

 factory representatives of the fruits after which they are named, 

 BuhiacecB (Coprosma), and, in some places, the fragrant "pepper tree" 

 {Brimys arornatica, Miill.). Where this undergrowth has been burnt 

 off by the frequent bush fires, a tall Senecio (S. australis, Willd.), like 

 our ragwort, here called the " fire weed," takes possession of the burnt 

 spots, and forms great masses of golden blossom, often several acres 

 in extent. In many places locomotion is rendered difiicult by the 

 dense growth of "cutting grass" {Cladium psittacorum,M.\)\\.), which 

 grows in great tufts six feet high, with serrated edges to the leaves, the 

 latter cutting like razors. Many beautiful flowers, including some fine 

 and rare Orchidece, bloom in the more open parts ; and in the damp 

 ravines ferns grow in astonishing variety and luxuriance, notably the 

 noble tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica, Lab., which is often more than 

 twenty feet high, with a trunk a foot and a half in diameter. The 

 "upper third of the mountain is very rugged and rocky, with stretches 



