Page:Advanced Australia.djvu/31

 giants are impressive from their very size. The giant tree of Western Australia is the Karri. The bark is smooth, yellow-white in appearance, and peels off every year, giving the stem a clean appearance. On an average these trees grow to 200 feet in height, 4 feet in diameter, 3 feet to 4 feet from the ground, and about 120 feet to 150 feet to the first branch.

Trees of the size indicated are what one usually meets with in the Karri forests, but much larger specimens are, of course, run against now and again. For instance, on the Warren River, it is not unusual to meet with trees which go 300 feet in extreme height, over 180 feet in height to the first limb, and from 20 feet to 30 feet in circumference at the base. It is certainly a matter of local record that some years ago a resident on the Warren River lived and partially raised a small family in the hollow of one of these fallen monarchs. It appears that the tree was hollow and fell, and was afterwards further worked out and lined by the enterprising settler as a dwelling for his family, until such time as he was in a position to build the modern edifice which now stands not far from the site or remains of the primitive habitation. The old tree was destroyed and effaced from the place by a recent bush fire. This specimen was said to be over 300 feet in length, and some 12 feet in diameter at the base. Whilst on this subject, I may mention that the tallest trees in Australia, and, as it is stated, in the world, grow in the colony of Victoria. There were local traditions of the existence of trees in Gippsland 500 feet high, which would have quite eclipsed the giant Wellingtonias of the Yosemite; but these were based on mere guesses. Officers of the Survey Department made a search some years ago, and careful measurements of the tallest trees to be found, and the greatest height of a