174 Excursion to Toolangi. rvoi"^xxxVv 



was hardly noticeable when we got out into the beautiful 

 country. The fourteen-mile drive from Yarra Glen to Toolangi 

 was very interesting — among hills covered with medium-sized 

 cucalypts. From one point, locally k;jown as " Cape Horn," 

 there was an extensive view over the Yarra valley to the 

 Dandenong Ranges and Malleson's Look-out. As we walked 

 up the steep part of one hill we could not help admiring the 

 Sweet Bursaria, just then at its best, bearing its panicles of 

 small, creamy-white, scented flowers. Here also were found 

 spikes of the pink orchid Dipodium punctafiim, often called 

 " native hyacinth " by the bush folk. Our destination, 

 Alanbee House, we found to be nicely situated in a sheltered 

 spot, and as an agriculturist I could not but admire the 

 seven acres of potatoes close by, which were in splendid order, 

 and were excellent when sampled at dinner. We were going 

 to be very energetic in the afternoon, but. attracted by some 

 pleasant shade alongside the Yea River afforded by a thicket 

 of hazel, musk, sassafras, and tree-ferns, amidst which the 

 umbrella and star ferns were climbing, not even the leeches 

 and mosquitoes could make us move. The call for afternoon 

 tea was more successful. Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., who had 

 been announced as leader of the excursion, was unfortunately 

 prevented l)y his official duties from leaving town, so we were 

 glad when our fell()w-mcml)er, Mr. Chas. Daley, F.L.S., who 

 was spending a holiday in the district, kindly undertook to 

 act as leader on the morrow lor a v^sit to the Sylvia h'alls. 

 This was particularly good of him, for he had been there only 

 a day or two before with Mrs. Dale}', and was well aware of 

 the difficulties of the track. We went to tlic " Canoe " in the 

 evening, anil found the ferns along the river a beautiful sight. 

 On the way back wc passed Mr. C. J. Dennis's house, sur- 

 n^unded with wattles and gums, and " dinger Mick " intro- 

 duced his friendly self, acconijxmying us Ixuk to " Alanbee." 

 The walk to the Sylvia Flails sei-med to us nion' than tlir 

 seven miles it is reputed to be, but it was very bLautiiul and 

 interesting, and, even if we did cross the stream twenty-nine 

 times, we did it each time over a different kind of cros.-ing. A 

 soft mist was falling, making the bushes moist, while our foot- 

 steps made no sound on the soft wet leaves as we went along. 

 Our path was through a tangle of blanket-wood, sassafras, 

 hazel, musk, lomatia, with tree-ferns decked with filmy ferns, 

 mosses, and lycopods. Later we came to the myrtles, Fai>us 

 Cunniughaini, but I like to call them by their ])ropir name — 

 Ix'ech. They were so beautiful— the old, old trunks covered 

 with mosses and lichens, even out to the uttermost points of 

 the limbs. They yield a beautiful timber for household use. 

 From them Beech Forest, in the Otway peninsula, got its name. 



