52 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
situations a height of sixty feet. Indigenous to New South Wales, Queensland and 
North Australia. Bark possessed of similar properties as that of the common 
“ Tea tree” (No. 60) a remark which will apply with equal propriety to most of the 
Melaleucas. Sample prepared from tree growing in Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 62. Paper prepared from bark of Pittosporum crassifolium : Banks and 
Solander. Ord. Pittosporese. — An erect growing shrub or small tree indigenous 
to New Zealand but of very rapid growth in Victoria where it is used for orna- 
mental hedges. Most of' the Pittosporums of New Zealand are possessed of tough 
barks, somewhat similar to Pimelia axiflora in texture. Sample prepared at 
Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 63. Paper prepared from bark of Melaleuca squarrosa : Smith. Ord. 
Myrtacea?. — “Yellow Wood” of some districts of Victoria. This species grows to 
a considerable height in parts of Gippsland. It is also found in the colonies of 
New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. Sample prepared at Mel- 
bourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 64. Pibre prepared from the bark of Plagianthus betulinus : A. Cunningham. 
Ord. Malvaceae. — The “Lace Bark” or “Ribbon tree” of New Zealand. A graceful 
tree attaining a height of seventy or eighty feet. Bark of a beautiful lace-like 
texture and very strong, suitable for fishing lines and nets, cordage, mats, baskets 
and paper. It is of very quick growth in Victoria. Sample from plants grown 
in Melbourne Botanic Garden. 
No. 65. Fibre prepared from the bark of Sterculia lurida : F. von Mueller. 
Ord Sterculiacefe.— A tree of large size, somewhat resembling S. acerifolium. It 
is a native of New South Wales, but succeeds well, in Victoria. Its bark is 
valuable as a fibre material, suitable for making mats, baskets, ropes, paper, &c. ; 
it is easily prepared by a steeping process. Samples prepared from plant grown 
in Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 66. Paper made from Conferva spe.? — This material can be had in enormous 
quantities, even in the immediate neighborhood of Melbourne. It completely 
covers the surface of the various lagoons throughout the colony and is very 
easily gathered and converted into a good strong paper, fit fqr packing purposes. 
Samples prepared at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 67. Fibre prepared from the leaves of Yucca aloifolia. — The Aloe leaved 
“ Adam’s-Needle,” a native of South America. It succeeds admirably in Victoria 
and is of moderately quick growth. Sample prepared from plant grown in Mel- 
bourne Botanic Gardens. 
No. 68. Fibre prepared from Cladium radula : Robert Brown. — “The Black 
Reed ” or “ Cutting Grass.” A tall sedge-like grass, on wet land found, growing 
extensively to a height of three to four feet. It is used by brickmakers as a 
covering material, and by the settlers as a thatch for their houses, for which pur- 
pose it is well adapted. The fibre when properly prepared is strong and of good 
quality. The plant is a valuable paper material and can be had in any quantity. 
Indigenous to Victoria and many other parts of the Australian continent. 
No. 69. Fibre prepared from Lepidosperma flexuosum : Robert Brown. Order 
Cyperacese. — “ The slender Sword Rush ” known locally as the “ Mat Grass.” 
This plant is found plentifully on low-lying swampy ground in the Dandenong 
district and many other parts of the colony of Victoria. Like most of the genus 
it furnishes a valuable paper material and also a good strong fibre. It is made 
into baskets, &c., by the aborigines. 
