i8o AuDAS, Botanical Gleanings on [ "^Van ^' 



Formerly there was a good deal of mmmg carried on at Omeo. 

 but, although the district is not by any means worked out. and 

 payable stone in large quantities is known to exist, there is 

 now very little being carried on, for want of capital to develop 

 it. At a sluicing claim many large slabs of petrified wood have 

 been brought to light, and I was fortunate in securing a 

 specimen. 



While staymg m the town 1 was privileged to inspect a very 

 interesting collection of minerals owned by Mr. Blackburn, 

 comprising stones from every quarter of the world, and other 

 interesting objects, such as a blackfellow's stone tomahawk, 

 with the gum of the grass-tree adhering the stone to the handle, 

 also specimens of bending stone from India, and huge fossilized 

 fungi. Extensive caves are in existence near Bindi. They are 

 m the possession of the Government, but have not been opened 

 up, and consequently are not visited by many tourists, although 

 well worth seeing. 



At Mount Murphy, about 25 miles out. are the famous 

 wolfram mines, and many specimens of ore were shown to me. 

 The veins are very numerous, but of variable width, and are 

 best worked by small parties of men upon the tribute system, 

 as the ore is intermixed with much worthless matter, which 

 requires careful handling to keep it clean, and thus save 

 expense in carting to the battery at Benambra. where it is 

 treated. 



The famous high plains of Omeo are situated at Benambra. 

 some 15 miles to the north-east, and the road for the first mile 

 follows the course of the Livingstone River, the banks of 

 which, unlike the Tambo and other Gippsland streams, were not 

 densely vegetated, their sole decoration consisting of English 

 Broom. Cytisns scoparius, and a prolific growth of Shore 

 Thistle. Card It us pycnocephalus. This exotic thrives vigorously 

 throughout the w^hole district, in some places growing higher 

 than the fences. 



The road then leads up a winding ascent for a distance of 

 SIX miles, lightly vegetated by isolated shrubs of Daphne Heath. 

 Brachyloma daphnoides. Wild Cherry, Exocarpiis ciipressiformis. 

 Prickly Box, Bursaria spinosa, and small forms of Snow Gum. 

 Eucalyptus pauciflora, Black Sally, E. stellulaia. White Gum. 

 E. viminalis, Candlebark, E. riihida. Swamp Gum, E. Gimnii. 

 and Peppermint. E. amygdalina. The Bidgee Widgee. Accena 

 sangtiisorba;, and Sheep's Burr, .4. ovina, were both flourishing 

 along the slopes of the hills. The former is of creeping habit, 

 rooting at every joint, and consequently very difficult to 

 eradicate. It is supposed 'to possess medicinal properties, its 

 leaves having been used by bushmen in brewing a decoction 



