The South Australian Naturalist. 



Excursion, 18/9/20. — The party was conducted to Mount 

 Lofty summit by Mr. B. Beck, in place of Mr. E. H. Lock, who 

 was unable to be present. On the way the grass trees 

 (Xanthorrhea semiplana) were noticed in flower near Belair, in 

 a small area that had been burnt over last summer. An inter- 

 esting time was sj^ent in noting the manner in which the native 

 flora was regenerating itself in a deserted garden, the eucalypts, 

 banksia, hakea. and leptospermum being noticed particularly. 



Excursion, 13/10/20. — A large party of members went to 

 Kuitpo Forest (m the holiday. In the absence, through illness, 

 of Mr. H. H. Corbiii, who was to have led the party, Forester 

 Durward took charge. The forest is situated near Meadows, 

 and contains a large area of mountainous and level country. 

 Trees indigenous to the locality are cared for, and regeneration 

 takes place after clearing and firing. These timbers include the 

 Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). Red Gum (E. rostrata), 

 Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon). White Stringj^bark (E. obliqua), 

 Pink Gum (E. fasciculosa). Cabbage Gum (E. cosmophylla), 

 Candlebark (E. rubida). Brown Stringybark (E. capiteliata), 

 and E. Gunnii. The first four form the chief local timber of the 

 forest. In the flat damp situations young Red Gum was growing 

 very thickly, forming a dense forest, and this extended for some 

 miles. The Manna Gum also luxuriates in damp situations, such 

 as creeks, and some fine timber was seen; trunks five feet 

 through MTV,^ about the largest. Other Australian Eucalypts 

 were also being grown commercially, including E. eugenioides 

 and E. siderDxylon (Ii-onbark of N.'s.W.), and jarrah (E. mar- 

 ginata). The ])i]ies grown were as follow: — Remarkable (Pinus 

 insignis). Maritime (P. maritima), Canary Islands (P. canari- 

 ensis), P. larico, P. muricata, P. ])onderosa, P. halopensis; the 

 latter, however, does not do well. One of the best pijies in the 

 reserve is the Canary Island variety; it is fast growing, and 

 reaches commercial size in thirty years. A crop rotation of 

 thirty years has now been established. Each year the mature 

 crop is cut out and replanted. The whole forest will eventually 

 be cleared, but of course new timber will always be growing. 

 An interesting instance of how the pines affect the undergrowth 

 was noticed. The Remarkable and Maritime pines in a certain 

 section were planted together and at the same time. All the 

 undergrowth in the first area was killed off on account of the 

 pines making a dense canopy and shutting out all sunlight. 

 Under the Maritime i)ines, vvhich were not nearly so big and 

 allowed sunlight to filter through the crown, the shrubs and 

 ground flora were still preserved. 



