THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 107 



PAPERS READ. 



1. By Mr. N. J. Caire, entitled " Notes on the Giant Trees of 

 Victoria," communicated by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. 



The author, in an interesting paper, gave particulars as to the 

 size and situation of some of the largest of the giant eucalypts of 

 Victoria, and urged that some steps should be taken to protect 

 the few remaining giants from destruction either by bush fires or 

 by the hand of man. He estimated the age of these trees at 

 from 1,500 to 1,800 years, and stated that further exploration 

 would probably result in the discovery of other giants, especially 

 in the valleys forming the head waters of the River Yarra. 

 Attention was called to numerous patches of dead trees existing 

 in parts of Gippsland, and suggestions made as to the cause. 



The paper was illustrated by a fine series of lantern sides. 



Mr. F. Pitcher complimented the author on his paper, saying 

 that some action should be taken to arouse the interest of the 

 public in our big trees, and pointed out that in the United States 

 the big trees were regarded as a valuable asset, and an attraction 

 to tourists. 



Mr. C. French, F.L.S., referred to the patches of dead timber 

 to be seen in our forests, and said that he had not been able to 

 arrive at any conclusion regarding the cause. All the trees 

 seemed to have perished about the same time, but whether from 

 the effects of severe cold or the ravages of insect larvae was 

 impossible to say. He had found the White Gum singularly free 

 from destruction by insects. He also stated that a magnificent 

 forest of giant gums can be seen between the Upper Latrobe and 

 Beenak, about five miles from Noojee and thirty from Neerim. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said that the statement that no records 

 of our big trees exist was hardly correct, for in the chapter on 

 Eucalyptus amygdalina in the late Baron von Mueller's 

 " Eucalyptographia " a number of measurements of large trees 

 are given, though some doubt has been since expressed as to the 

 reliability of the figures given. 



The Chairman remarked that a large area of dead trees exists in 

 the Western Tiers, Tasmania, close to the Great Lake, at an alti- 

 tude of about 3,000 feet. Driving along the road from Tunbridge, 

 after passing through green forest country, one comes suddenly 

 upon an area of probably 200 acres on which the whole of the 

 original timber is dead, the only growth existing being clumps of 

 small, stunted eucalypts here and there. Thousands of dead trees 

 are lying all over this plain, while a large number are still standing, 

 white, weird, and gaunt, the effect after leaving the living forest 

 being most impressive. It is alleged by old residents that the 

 trees were killed by a severe winter some fifty-five years ago. 



2. By Rev. W. W. Watts, entitled " Some Mosses from near 

 Melbourne," communicated by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. 



