y^'.''] HARDY, The Forests of Victoria. j$ 



at times it freely mixes with a tew other highland species. A 

 few species monopolize smaller areas — e.g., E. paludosa, a swamp 

 gum which delights in damp Hats, and there resembles E. 

 rostrata in general appearance, and. like it, may be found on 

 slightly higher ground : /:. Delegatensis, Victorian Woolly-butf 

 or Red Ash. another sub-alpine tree, but confined to North- 

 Eastern Victoria : /:'. obliqua, as its vernacular, " Messmate," 

 suggests, is less exclusive, but in some highland areas, and in the 

 Wombat and other forests, enjoys a monopoly of fairly ex- 

 tensive tracts. Elsewhere we have, in different classes of 

 country, smaller areas in which the dominant species form 

 groves. Thus, in the midst of other timbers, or alternating 

 with belts of other species, may be found Eucalyptus 

 amygdalina, I:, sideroxylon, E. hemiphloia, Sec. Groves of 

 Fagus Cunninghami, the Myrtle Beech, in the highland glens 

 of Otway and Gippsland, are miniature pure forests. Similarly, 

 in the North-West (the Mallee), dwarf eucalypts of a single 

 species form small pure forests topographically limited, while 

 exclusive groves of arboreous — and therefore in that locality 

 conspicuous — trees are composed of Callitris or Casuarina. 



If a line be drawn from Woodend, on the northern plain, to 

 the summit of Mount Macedon, a distribution in vertical zones 

 may be noted. On the flat. Eucalyptus paludosa, a swamp 

 gum, is in possession ; at the base of the mount a belt of mixed 

 forest consists of /:. amygdalina, E. viminalis (stunted), /:. 

 elceoplwra, &c, which, as we ascend, gives way to a pre- 

 dominance of /:'. obliqua, and through a pure belt of the last- 

 named species we suddenly reach a summit-capping, shrubby 

 eucalypt. E. coriacea, which marks the region of occasional 

 snows at J, 500 feet. This is the northern aspect. Continuing 

 the line over the summit and down the southern slopes, and 

 neglecting, lor the moment, the exotic pines, we have, before 

 reaching the Messmate, a belt of " Gum-top Messmate," 

 possibly a form of E. pilularis, which in general aspect 

 suggests affinity with the Messmate and the Giant Gum. and 

 luxuriates on the shady side ol the mount. Lower, it 

 mingles with E. obliqua and tall, straight trees of /•. . viminalis, 

 which become stunted as we descend to the altitude attained 

 on this .side by E. paludosa and E. amygdalina. Here we 

 have in the whole a mixed forest with pure forest patches. 

 the result ol topographical conditions and aspect. In the 

 Won Wron forest, in Gippsland. comparatively low. undulating 

 country carries valuable timber in considerable areas, con- 

 sisting of a single species. This is the Yellow Stringy-bark. 

 Eucalyptus Muelleriana. It may be found, in the same reserve, 

 in isolated patches and belts, or associated with other spe< i' 

 ol eucalyptus, such as /•;. hemiphloia and E. Eugenoides, and 



