jo Audas, Characteristic Vegetation about Y arrant- [ v< j! ct xxx 



XXXV. 



sea-coasts) it rarely attains a height of more than three or 

 four feet. Everywhere the tops of the Acacias and Cassinias 

 were interwoven with the cord-like stems and branches of the 

 Larger Dodder Laurel, Cassytha melantha, rendering some of 

 the parts almost impenetrable. Another smaller species, 

 C. pubescens, was met with, but it prefers the smaller shrubs. 

 A third species, C. glabella, with a stem hardly thicker than a 

 thread, infests species of Lomandra and Lepidosperma prefer- 

 entially, but fastens on almost anything in its way ; it is chiefly 

 found on the coast plain and other open tracts. I chanced 

 upon many nice clumps of Prostanthera rotundifolia growing 

 in moist places along the valley of a stream, while a little 

 beyond flourished thickets of Cassinia aculeata, laden with 

 dense umbel-like flower-heads, varying from white to pink. 

 Most of the shrubs were similar to those met with on any 

 Victorian range, comprising Acacias, Persoonias, Indigofera, 

 Leptospermum, Panax, Exocarpus, Casuarina, Hakea, Pul- 

 tenseas, and the ubiquitous Bursaria spinosa. The fern Pteris 

 aquilina, or Bracken, covered large areas. This fern is reputed 

 to have anthelmintic properties, and if it could be manu- 

 factured commercially there would, no doubt, be a tremendous 

 scope for it. On our return journey we passed through a fine 

 grove of Banksia serrata. This is a proteaceous tree which 

 produces very ornamental timber, and is highly prized for 

 firewood. The trees were laden with quaint bottle-brush-like 

 flowers, beautifully scented and full of honey. 



Another outing which I greatly appreciated was that to the 

 Tarra Valley, twenty miles to the north-west of Yarram. An 

 early start was made so that the trip could be accomplished in 

 one day, and my companions were two local residents, Messrs. 

 C. and D. Hill. A few miles out from the township are the 

 well-known " Tooloonook " flats, where large herds of well-bred 

 and sleek cattle were seen grazing in pastures knee-deep in 

 lush grass. A little further on we reached the timber country, 

 which here was composed chiefly of Red Stringybark, Messmate 

 Stringybark, Long-leaf Box, and Blue Gum. Of the latter 

 some splendid tall specimens were seen. One can scarcely 

 praise too highly the qualities of the Blue Gum. Its bark, 

 leaves, and flowers are aromatic, and its dense foliage gives 

 excellent shade, while its remarkable rapidity of growth 

 (sometimes attaining a rate of two feet and upwards a month) 

 render it particularly suitable for avenues. Its wood is deemed 

 to equal the English Oak, and, to all the foregoing qualities, 

 we may add the supreme one — that being its adaptability to 

 climate. It flourishes in almost any altitude, and in India 

 it grows at a height of 8,000 feet above sea-level in such parts 

 as the Himalayas and southwards. 



