288 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Cliorlzemas and Kennedy as. We found a large patch of Acacia saligva, 

 which I had not seen before in any quantity; and on nearing the hght- 

 honse the country became more open, the vegetation very stunted, and 

 here and there were patches of the blue Leschenauliia, a creeping 

 Dryandra, a Calythrix, and the little iris-like Sisyrifichium, while the 

 scrub Jarrah gum was in full flower (white). I had previously written to 

 Mr. Baird, the lighthouse-keeper, to say we were coming, and on arrival 

 we were most hospitably received by Mrs. Baird, who had prepared 

 lunch for us. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are much interested in natural history 

 and plants, so I learnt while there a great deal about the birds of the 

 neighbourhood as well as about some of the plants. After visiting the 

 lighthouse we explored the cliffs and were much struck by finding 

 masses of Templetomia retusa in flower; it is a fine thing, and the flower 

 very much resembles the well-known New Zealand plant Cliantlius 

 puniceus. 



The northern sheltered side of the Cape is densely covered with 

 some very fine Melaleucas (fig. 95), but the species I did not identify. 



Eeturning again to the lighthouse we saddled our ponies and started 

 on our return journey to the Cave House, but were very sorry to leave, 

 and felt we could have profitably spent at least two days here. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Baird were most kind to us, and have already fulfilled their 

 promise to send home seeds. On this day I had a very heavy col- 

 lection of specimens and several plants, and was exceedingly glad that 

 my pony had to bear the brunt of the weight and not myself ; but I feel 

 we were well rewarded for our long outing. 



The next day was spent in pressing specimens and photographing 

 various shrubs and trees, and the evening found us again in Busselton. 

 Thus ended our first insight into the flora of South- Western Australia, 

 over which I was greatly dazzled and much confused ; but its magnifi- 

 cence has left a very deep impression. 



II. — From Bridgetown (Lat. 34° S., Long. 116° E.) to 

 Stirling Eange (Lat. 34^ 30^ S., Long. IIBO 15' E.). 



After leaving Busselton we proceeded to Bridgetown by train, 

 where we started for a cross-country drive. The country may be 

 described as one vast sand heap, underlying which is either granite 

 or limestone, which appears on the surface in places. The vegetation 

 is mostly composed of large forest trees (Eucalyptus) or small shrubs, 

 mainly of a heath-like appearance, and where the Eucalypti are more 

 scattered, there the shrubs abound; but even the floor of the densest 

 gum forest is by no means bare (fig. 96). I was most kindly assisted 

 by the Lands Department here, who took considerable trouble to insure 

 that we should have a suitable outfit for our cross-country drive. 



Having got all the plant-collecting material, stores, and horse food 

 piled on our buggy, we left Bridgetown on October 7. and did fourteen 

 miles in an easterly direction to our first camp townrds Kojonnp. Islr. 

 Maiden, Government Botanist of New Soutli Wales, and ]iis wife h.ad 



