138 Exciivsion to Belgvave. [v<X!x*xxvi. 



EXCURSION TO BELGRAVE. 



Quite a large party of members took part in the excursion 

 to Belgrave (Dandenong Ranges) on Saturday, 6th December, 

 and, favoured by a beautiful day, thoroughly enjoyed the 

 outing. The welcome rain earlier in the week had freshened 

 up the vegetation, and as we journeyed along by the morning 

 train everything seemed at its best. Between Bayswater and 

 Ferntree Gully numerous patches of the Golden Spray, 

 Viminaria denudatd, an almost leafless shrub or small tree 

 belonging to the Leguminosae, were seen to be in full bloom, 

 reminding one of the graceful golden showers seen in fireworks 

 displays. The Common Cottonwood, Cassinia aculeata, and 

 the Shrubby Everlasting, Helichrysum ferrugineum, with their 

 headlets of small white flowers, also made a fine show. Two 

 Senecios, 5. vagus and 5. ausiralis, bearing brilliant yellow 

 flowers, and the Trigger Plant, Stylidimn (Candollea) gramini- 

 foliiim (pink), added colour to the scene. The young eucalypts 

 displayed a wealth of colour in their new growths, and were 

 greatly admired as we gradually increased our elevation. Near 

 Belgrave the first bushes of the Christmas-tree, Prostanthera 

 lasianihos, were just coming into bloom. Belgrave, 750 feet 

 above sea-level, is a centre from which many interesting trips 

 can be made. We had decided on this occasion to try Hardy's 

 Creek, situated in the State forest, about a mile from the 

 township. This creek, by the way, is named after the late 

 Mr. Jno. Hardy, father of our president, who made the 

 original survey of the Dandenong Ranges in 1867. It joins 

 the Monbulk Creek near the crescent railway bridge between 

 Belgrave and Selby. As we walked along the line, fine growths 

 of Blackwood, Sassafras, Silver Wattle, Native Hazel, and 

 Christmas-tree were to be seen in the valley of the Monbulk 

 Creek, while in the grounds of Belgrave House, close by, 

 and in Mr. Lipscombe's garden beyond, many fine introduced 

 European and American trees added interest to the scene. 

 At the bridge we found a well-worn track leading to the site 

 of a former sawmill. It had been our intention to follow up 

 the eastern branch of Hardy's Creek, as offering the best oppor- 

 tunities for the study of the object of the excursion — ferns ; 

 but in the multiplicity of tracks spreading out from the saw- 

 mill we happened to choose one which eventually led us away 

 from the creek up into the higher part of the forest. Before 

 going further it was decided to have lunch, and in the vicinity 

 of our resting-place luxuriant growths of many of our commoner 

 ferns were observed, including the Batswing l^Vrn, Pteris incisa, 

 and the Leathery Shield-fern, Aspidiitin coriaceum. Our 

 track was \yell defined, and, tliough it led away from the creek, 

 we continued on, expecting it to strike the creek again, but 



