10 Aug., 1916.] Bee-keejung in Victoria. 479 



fastened to it by wire clips. The netting represented by crossed diagonal 

 lines is 3 ft. 6 in. wide, 6 inches of which is trenched in the ground 

 with a turn towards the outside, so that when the rabbits scratch they 

 will come in contact with the netting. Two barbed wires are used (c), 

 drawn through holes in the posts and large enough to permit of passing 

 through freely. The barbed wire on top is stretched along the posts 

 and held in position by a piece of wire, which is passed through the 

 post about 3 inches from the top, a few turns are taken around the 

 barbed wire, as shown at (d). Should two wires be used instead of 

 (b), they may be put in at (e) and (f), and for this purpose No. 10 

 gauge wire will suffice. 



{To he confiiniefl.) 



BEE-KEEPING IN VICTORIA. 



/i// l'\ R. ]icuJnn\ (joveriiment A piciiJturiiit . 



XXVI.— THE HONEY FLORA OF YICTO^IK— continued. 



(Continued from page 249.) 



Thk White Top Gum {E iirohipt ui< rifrro, R. T. Baker). 



(Fij. 48.) 



A tall tree with roughish bark similar to that of the Narrow-leaved 

 Peppermint {E . ainj/f/dalina), the extremities of the branches being 

 smooth. In the adult foliage the leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, 

 about 6 inches long, of dull green, shining on both sides, stalk short, 

 few veins and almost parallel to the midrib. The sucker leaves are 

 alternate or opposite on a short stalk or stalkless, egg-lance-shaped 

 pointed, under 6 inches long, and \\ inches broad; the lateral veins 

 diverge from below the middle of the midrib, and are prominent on 

 both sides, with the marginal vein removed from the edge of the leaf. 



The flower clusters are at the shoulders of leaves, and bear generally 

 from five to eight flowers; buds with lid half-round, short pointed; 

 fruit half-round. 



The timber is moderately luird and close grained, full of shakes and 

 gum veins and apparently of little value. This tree is also known as 

 Silvertop Messmate. Peppermint, and Messmate. The term Silvertop 

 refers to the silvery apjiearance of the tree in the sunlight, due to the 

 reflection of the light from the surface of the sliiny leaves causing them 

 to appear silvery. The term White Top is no doubt used to distinguisli 

 it from the Peppermint {K . ani//f/daliTia) often known as Messmate. In 

 Victoria the White Top Gum i.s found in the eastern parts of the State. 



