FLORAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE SWAN RIVER COLONY. 233 
ture ranging from 40° to 60°; permanently lower in winter than in 
summer, and, in all cases, lower by night than by day ; from 35° to 40° 
will be a sufficient night temperature. ‘The hardy and _half-hardy 
species may be placed in a frame kept moderately close at all times, 
and, in winter, covered at night with mats. The hardy species do not 
absolutely need this protection, but the shelter thus afforded is 
favourable to their development. Shade, during bright sunny weather, 
is decidedly advantageous to these plants. Ferns should never be 
suffered to become dry; when growing, they require a free supply of 
water at the roots, and frequent sprinkling overhead ; but when at rest, 
a moderate quantity is sufficient. Soft water should always be used. 
—Journ. Hort. Soc., iv. 90. 
REMARKS ON THE FLORAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE 
SWAN RIVER COLONY. 
Peruaprs the whole of the rest of Australia, singular and beautiful as 
its vegetation is, must yield to the Swan River flora the palm of 
elegance and gorgeous colouring. ‘his spot, probably, has also been 
as well examined as any part of the country, and many of its most 
interesting plants have been introduced to this country ; but still many 
remain to be introduced, and fresh additions are made every day as 
the country is further explored. One of the natural features of this 
part of Australia, which no doubt has an effect on this beautiful vege- 
tation, is the almost universal presence of water, generally within two 
feet of the surface, if not breaking out in natural springs. ‘The country 
is generally of an open undulating character, the forests being com- 
posed of about three-fourths gum-trees (Hucalypti). The principal 
rise in the country is the range of the Darling Mountains, rising to a 
height of two thousand feet, and composed of limestone, covered 
with evergreen woods. The large plants giving the peculiar aspect to 
the country are, chiefly, the grass-tree (Xanthorrhea), often asso- 
ciated with a very large Banksia (B. grandis) and with Zaimia spiralis, 
which, like it, often attains a height of thirty feet. Others are the 
cypress pine (Callitris), two species of Casuarina, and the fire-tree 
(Nuytsia floribunda), a plant attaining the height of a small tree, and 
in its season so densely covered with spikes of orange flowers, that the 
above popular name has been bestowed on it by the colonists of King 
George’s Sound from the appearance which it makes in the landscape. 
With these are associated an immense variety of bushes, many of 
extremely neat and graceful habit, and producing a profusion of the 
most splendid flowers. By far the greater proportion of the vegetation 
is different in species from the other parts of Australia, especially from 
that of the neighbourhood of Sydney. Of the natural order Myrtacee 
many beautiful forms are found, among which Calytrix aurea, with 
oval leaves growing in an imbricated manner, and producing heads of 
bright yellow flowers, and C. sappharina, with rough heath-like leaves 
and round heads of very deep violet-coloured flowers, are very striking. 
But a much finer bush is Chrysorrhoé nitens, with heath-like leaves 
Vou. xvit. No, 33.—N.S. 8 
