Mar.,1 

 1Q16 J 



AuDAs, A Botanist in the Portland District. 163 



undergrowth of Leptospermums, Melaleucas, Acacias, and 

 Helichrysiim ferritgineum, to which were hanging the largc^ 

 parasitical Dodder Laurel, Cassytha melantha. Of shrubs the 

 most conspicuous were the Flame Heath, Astroloma [Styphclia) 

 conostephioidcs, with its beautiful crimson tubular-shaped 

 flowers; Pimclcci linifolia, and P. Jiava, dressed in white and 

 yellow respectively ; Logania ovata, a slender shrub two to four 

 feet in height, with clusters of whitish flowers at the tip of 

 every branchlet ; Pultencea villosa, with numerous racemes of 

 yellow blooms ; Daviesia idicina, with small leaves and brick- 

 red flowers ; and the ubiquitous Bursaria spinosa, which would 

 soon be abloom with its large panicles of creamy-white flowers 

 but very spiny branches. Hakea rostrata, known as Beaked 

 Hakea, an elegant shrub, was in full bloom, and its perfumed 

 white flowers enticed bees and many other insects. Epacris 

 microphylla and Sprengelia incarnata grew robustly, and some 

 spacimens of the latter were observed to have double flowers, 

 while Olearia {Aster) stellulata showed its variability of form 

 here and at the sea-coast. The Stunted Sheoke, Casiiarina 

 distyla, and its variety prostrata were growing in company, 

 and afforded an interesting opportunity of comparison. 

 Usually each kind seemed confined to a small space, but where 

 intermixed a variegated area of silky grey and green met the 

 eye. It is often known as the Kerosene Bush, owing to the 

 ready ignition of its leaves. One of the most beautiful shrubs 

 found here is Kunzea parvifolia, with its numerous bright 

 pinky heads of flowers. Blooming as it does for many weeks, 

 it would be an ornament to any garden. OtheV plants 

 deserving the attention of horticulturists were Goodia lotifolia 

 (yellow), Pimelea ligiistrina (cream). Indigo/era australis (lilac), 

 and Correa speciosa (red) ; the latter species is easily cultivated, 

 and requires little attention. Grass-trees, Xanthorrha'a 

 australis, adorned the landscape with their stately flower-spikes 

 and strong bayonet-shaped leaves. Some specimens noted had 

 grown into strange forms representing animals, one resembling 

 an emu in form ; another looked like a huge cat. Many were 

 in bloom, the scape often reaching a height of twelve feet or 

 piore. 



An interesting trip which can be accomplished in a day's 

 outing is to the Cashmere Heath Settlement, about ten miles 

 to the north-west of Portland. Following the old Mount 

 Gambler road, Borthwick and Sons' freezing works at North 

 Portland are passed. Here large numbers of carcasses of live 

 stock are prepared for export. Last year, among others, 

 700,000 rabbits and 100,000 lambs were put through from the 

 surrounding district. In a large swamp near by grew some 

 handsome tufts of the Tassel Cordrush, Restio tetraphylhis, and 



