f"j*] Audas, A Trip to Mount Beenak. 165 



strata, and M. porrifolia, which bears a dense spike of small 

 green flowers : the tubers of the latter species are sweet and 

 edible, and are much sought after by children, who dig them 

 out in a similar manner to the tubers of the Native Yam. 

 Microseris Forsteri. 



The original settlement of the swamp was confined to the 

 land adjoining the main drain, but it has since extended in every 

 direction, so that there is now very little of the swamp 

 remaining in an unprofitable state. The present satisfactory 

 condition has been achieved by the energy and efforts of the 

 settlers, who have contended against much adversity in the 

 past. Occasionally the fruits of a season's toil have been 

 ruined by floods, but that is now of rare occurrence. The area 

 of the swamp is about 90,000 acres, the soil being of a black 

 peaty quality, very porous, and easily worked, but requiring 

 a large rainfall on account of its friable nature. The bulk of 

 the land is devoted to agriculture, and good crops of potatoes 

 and onions are grown. Rape does wonderfully well ; it enriches 

 the ground and is a splendid fodder for sheep. Mere and there 

 are several sand-ridges, and many of these are uncultivated 

 and left tor shelter belts for stock, as the original vegetation, 

 comprising Eucalyptus paludosa, E. Stuartiana, Acacia melan- 

 oxylon, A. decurrens, Melaleuca squarrosa, M. ericifolia, 

 Leptosperutum scoparium. Viminaria denudata, Olearia [Aster) 

 ramulosa, Lomandra (Xerotes) longifolia, Gahnia psittacorum 

 Pteris aquilina, and Arundo Phragmites, has not been disturbed. 



Tlie channel is twenty-four miles long, and, traversing ii foi 

 some distance, a number oi comfortable homesteads are passed. 

 Near Cora Lynn two introduced shrubs — the African Boxthorn, 

 Lyciurn horridunt, and Calycotome spino$a, each having Ion:;, 

 formidable -looking spines— are spreading along the banks ol 

 the stream, probably originally planted in the district for hedge 

 purposes. The banks of the channel become gradually steepei 

 from tona onwards, and the vegetation is more varied and 

 plentiful, consisting chiefly "I Pomaderris apetala, Melaleuca 

 ericifolia, Eucalyptus paludosa, E. Stuartiana, Acacia decurrens, 

 A. mollissima, A. verticillata, A. stricta, Spyridium parvifolium, 

 and Restio tetraphyllus. Willows have been planted heir. 

 probably to prevent erosion. A short distance beyond the 

 township o\ Bunyip the waters from the Rivers Tarago and 

 Bunyip join the channel. The soil in this portion is especially 

 rich, and products abundant crops oi cereals. 



Leaving the swamp and working my way in a north-westerlj 

 direction, the vegetation passed through is mostly represented 

 by Correa, Hakea, Acacia. Melaleuca, Leucopogon, Lepto- 

 spermum, Platylobium, Pultenaea, and shrubby eucalypts. At 

 Garfield the Black Twig-rush, Gahnia Radula, grows plenti- 



