90 fHE VtCtORtAN NAtDftALlSl-. fVo). XXVj. 



forming quite coppices in their way, are to be found along the 

 coast of south-eastern South Australia. 



Those who have not the opportunities to travel far afield to 

 witness the more familiar wattles which I have mentioned in 

 their natural surroundings will experience a delightful treat in 

 visiting the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, where a secure or more 

 kinds may be seen in full flower during the season, some of the 

 more striking species being the Crescent-leaved Wattle, 

 Acacia lunata ; the Alpine Wattle, A. pravissima ; the Myrtle- 

 leaved, A. myrtifolia ; the Knife-leaved, A. cultri/ormis ; and 

 the showy, A. spectabilis, &c., in various captivating shades of 

 yellow. 



At the vernal equinox the attendant wild gales are often the 

 bearers of wattle perfume, gathered from field and forest, while 

 pollen dust absorbed by the passing breeze has later on been 

 precipitated by the welcome rain, leaving a golden sediment on 

 our city roads or streets. Gales of wind and wet usually 

 dishevel and despoil the fair locks of " Yellow-haired Septem- 

 ber," but with the advance of bright October other wattles step 

 in to continue the colour scheme. 



In the east there is the Scrub Wattle, Acacia leprosa, a bush 

 of pendulous habit which illuminates the forested hills with its 

 bunches of bloom of bright lemon-chrome, and mingled with the 

 soft perfume is the aromatic aroma of its foliage. Away in the 

 west, near Cape Leeuwin, the beautiful-leaved gum forests and 

 giant Karri Karri tracts are bathed in yellow splendour by 

 reason of two striking species of wattles, which, blooming 

 unheeded in the woody wilderness, are known only by the stern 

 botanical names of Acacia divergens and A. pulchella, but having 

 seen these in their natural setting their modest beauty will ever 

 remain in the memory. 



While in the great western land, let us pause to admire another 

 and larger species, the Western, or, as sometimes called, the 

 Weeping Wattle, Acacia saligna, on account of its drooping 

 branches, which skirt-like cling about its figure. It is a most 

 ornamental tree, which is attested by the fact that it has been 

 introduced and freely cultivated in the public gardens of the 

 eastern States. During October every branchlet bears burdens 

 of fluffy balls, deep chrome yellow in colour. Their perfume, 

 however, is somewhat overpowering if taken into a room, and 

 for that reason they are better left upon the trees, where, as in 

 other kinds, their matchless beauty is better seen in contrast 

 with the natural greenery of the leaves. Had the poet Burns 

 dwelt in this southern land of ours, instead of the familiar couplet 

 he would probably have written — 



" For pleasures are like ivattlcs spread, 

 You seize the flower, its bloom is shed." 



