124 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The other, a Mountain Ash, E. stuartiana, is 70 feet in girth at 

 4 feet from the ground. The height of these is only about 

 150 to 180 feet in each case, the top having been blown off 

 through decay setting in. Probably if either of these were felled 

 it would show from 1,500 to 2,000 rings in its butt, thus indicat- 

 ing very great age. 1 have been informed that in the early days 

 finer trees than these were found in the ranges nearer Wood's 

 Point, but no definite records seem to exist. 



In the Dandenong Ranges, at Sassafras Gully, some very fine 

 trees up to a little over 40 feet in girth existed, but all have been 

 destroyed by fires, or by the village settlers in clearing their 

 allotments. 



Some very large trees have existed in the Warburton district, 

 especially one, in the hollow shell of which four or five mounted 

 horsemen could stand abreast. Following the ranges round to 

 Gilderoy, and on to Beenak, here and there large trees were to 

 be found. At Spicer's, Mount Myrtalia, Gilderoy, there is a 

 hollow tree in which ten or twelve visitors can sit round a table 

 for afternoon tea. 



Beyond Beenak, along the ranges at Noojee and Neerim, many 

 fine specimens existed. The " Neerim Giant," measured by a 

 Government surveyor, was 48 feet in girth and 325 feet high, with 

 the top broken off. This fine specimen has gone, like many 

 others, through neglect, and has been reduced to ashe^. About 

 a mile from this I found a tree, since known as Barker's " Duke," 

 which measured 40 feet in girth. Thence further along the 

 ranges towards Mount Baw Baw other giant specimens have been 

 known on private property, but no records have been made of 

 them. 



If we cross over to the South Gippsland Ranges we will find 

 the same class of country, the same quality of soil, and the same 

 conditions existing. At Yarragon, and thence across to Mirboo, 

 some fine specimens once existed, but have now mostly been 

 destroyed. " Hercules," at Wynstay, near Yarragon, was a 

 monster, growing in red volcanic soil, but came to its end by fire ; 

 its hollow trunk measured nearly 30 feet in diameter. The forests 

 here were noted for their tall trees. The tallest yet heard of was 

 at Childers, and was felled for the local saw-miils, and many 

 thousands of palings were split from its trunk, which was of no 

 great girth, but measured 300 feet to the first branch, beyond 

 which was a head of 50 feet of foliage. 



Turning to the Otway Peninsula, we find " Old Joe," at 

 Lome — a good solid trunk, without spurs, 40 feet in girth, and 

 over 200 feet high. Others existed at Apollo Bay, a little further 

 south, and at Beech Forest, more to the west, but no records 

 have been made of them, and probably, in the general destruc- 

 tion, they have now passed out of existence. 



