3 J Robinson, In the Dandenong Ranges 60 Years Ago. \^'^]\^J^ 



from 60 to 80 feet in circumference, while 30 or 40 feet up the 

 circumference would be reduced to about 20 feet. The trees 

 had brown-coloured bark on the lower portions of the trunk, 

 the upper jwrtions being white, the bark being very thin. 

 Baron von Mueller identified them as the mountain variety of 

 Eiaahptus amygJalimi. afterwards separated as a distinct 

 species under the name of E. regnans. 



Often, when scrambling about over logs and fallen branches 

 to measme a fallen giant, the sphtters seemed to regard me 

 with pitw as being a Uttle daft ; and when I said a gentleman 

 in Melbourne was anxious to get the measurements, it only 

 increased their pity, and they regarded us both as daft. 



As the pahng-sphtters invariably cut down the longest- 

 barrelled trees first, in order to get the easiest-spUtting timber. 

 I have no doubt but that some of the earher cut down trees 

 would have measured quite 400 feet. It is reported that the 

 late Mr. He\Tie. secretary- to Baron von Mueller, measured a 

 tree as 365 feet to where the top was broken oft. It is more 

 than probable this was the tree I mentioned as measuring 

 342 feet. 



It is greatlv to be regretted that an endeavour was not made 

 to preser\e some of these e.xtraordinarily tall trees from the 

 timber-cutters. It was only after settlement had commenced, 

 and roads were opened through the then State forest, that 

 bush-fires appeared, and began to encroach on the ranges from 

 all sides. The scrub would be burned a Uttle further into the 

 forest each year, so that the present appearance of the ranges 

 is altogether dift'erent to what it was sixty years ago. No one 

 who had not seen the district before these encroachments took 

 place could conceive such an altered appearance, or ever believe 

 that perhaps the tallest trees in the world grew there up to a 

 comparatively recent date. 



The Xeerim Forests. — A contributor to the Argus cf 28th 

 March states that towards the head of the Latrobe River a 

 splendid forest covering about 96,000 acre^ exists, the timber 

 of which he values as being worth nearly nine and a half 

 millions of pounds ! The trees on several measured acres 

 have been counted, and. whUe their height averages 300 feet, 

 their contents, allowing the low estimate of 4,000 feet per tree, 

 give the splendid Weld of 160.000 feet of sawn timber per acre. 

 One blackbutt yielded sixteen 6-feet lengths, from which 9.950 

 palings were split. These, at the rate of i8s. 6d. per 100. give 

 a value of £94 los. for the tree. From another tree the whole 

 of the timber required for a cottage of five rooms was obtained. 



