i62 AuDAS, A Botanist in the Portland District, [vd.'xxxiii. 



prettily laid out with lawns and tennis courts, and contain 

 some fine representative specimens from different parts of the 

 world. At the main entrance stands a large specimen of 

 Ficus rubiginosa, measuring twenty-five feet in circumference 

 at its base. Further inward a specimen of Cupressus macro- 

 carpa, var. horizontalis, measuring thirty feet in circumference, 

 commands attention, and various species of Pinus are of 

 splendid development. A remarkable feature was the 

 flourishing growth of Cinerarias of many vivid shades of 

 colour, growing in the open. These plants are usually under 

 cover in Melbourne, but here they flourish hke weeds. 



Following the coast northerly beyond Whalers' Point, we 

 come across some old whale skulls, partly buried in the sand, 

 and the remains of boilers used for rendering down blubber in 

 the early days. Further onward is the Surrey River, and 

 some miles distant the Fitzroy ; both these streams afford good 

 fishing and shooting. Margining the shore are low-lying grass- 

 flats with a background of higher timbered country, and just 

 off shore are reminders of sterner days in the remains of 

 wrecks. 



Growing on the beach in pure sand were found Suceda 

 maritima and Cakile maritima, with succulent leaves, Senccio 

 elegans (an introduction from South Africa, with showy i)urple 

 flowers), and Salsola Kali, an annual salsolaceous plant, which 

 grows in the form of a large ball. The latter has very spiny 

 leaves, and is sometimes known vernacularly as " RoUy- 

 poley." In the vicinity of a swampy marsh considerable 

 patches of ground were occupied by a number of creeping 

 plants. The chief of these were Samolus repens, a white- 

 flowered plant of the Primrose family ; Selliera radicans, also 

 white ; and Mimidus repens, of a bright lilac marked with 

 yellow in the centre. 



Following the road from Portland towards Heywood, about 

 nine miles of forest, composed chiefly of Messmate and Stringy- 

 bark, is passed through, the undergrowth consisting of 

 thickets of Acacia stricta and .4. inyrtifolia, very few of the 

 smaller shrubs being in flower, as it was too early for this class 

 of country ; but it would be well worth investigating later on 

 in the season. En route the Bolwarra State school, partly 

 comprised of the remains of the Caledonia Hotel (a relic of 

 the overlanding days), is passed, and just behind it rise the 

 Caledonian Hills, from which a magnificent view of Portland 

 and the Bay can be obtained. Leaving the road for a short 

 distance, a newly-laid-out lavender farm is met with, about 

 ten acres being under cultivation. Emerging from the forest, 

 fine open country comes into view, with occasional belts of 

 timber, consisting mainly of Swamp and Apple Gum, and an 



