JOUENAL 



OF THE 



Royal Horticultural Society. 



Vol. XXXVI. 1910. 

 Part II. 



A BOTANIZING EXPEDITION TO WEST AUSTRALIA IN 

 THE SPRING (OCTOBER), 1909. 



By Capt. a. a. Doerien-Smith, D.S.O. 



I.— Cape Naturalists (Lat. 33o 30^ S., Long. 1150 E.). 



In September 1909 I left England with my wife for a visit to the 

 Australian States, with the special intention of making as extensive a 

 tour as time permitted through the south-west region of West Aus- 

 tralia. I had often heard much about it, especially as regards its 

 flora, the magnificence of which I believe to be unsurpassed. Nothing 

 I have hitherto seen, in spite of all my wanderings, has anything like 

 compared with the glory of this wonderful and curious flora, about 

 which people in this country seem to know so little. 



To plant enthusiasts the flora is almost entirely unknown, yet it 

 seems that anyone owning a " Bagshot Heath " or sand-dune of any 

 description should be able to make a show of the types of plants found 

 here, provided the climatic conditions were not too severe. 



On our arrival in Perth, West Australia, we were met by Dr. A. 

 Morrison, formerly Government Botanist in the State, who most kindly 

 helped us throughout and, by introducing us to many of his friends, 

 enabled us to become quickly acquainted with the possibilities of our 

 tour. We were also greatly assisted by Mr. Bertoli, of the Lands 

 Department, who arranged for our conveyance across the country. 



We started on the third morning after our arrival — i.e. October 1, 

 1909 — to the neighbourhood of Cape Naturaliste, about 150 miles 

 south of Perth on the West Coast. The approach is by rail to Bussel- 

 ton, and then a drive of about twenty miles brings you to the Govern- 

 ment Bungalow, close to the great limestone caves of Yallingup, which 

 •is a very convenient centre from which to study the flora. 



VOL. XXXVI. U 



