& A &c-&# 27 SSN 081 1-531 1 DATE - DECEMBER, 1984.

"Regis te red by A u s t r a l i a Post - P u b l i c a t i o n Number NBH 3809.11

LEADER: Phy l l brown, 254 Edgar S t r e e t , Conde l l Park. 2200. SECRETARY : John Lee, 76 The Bulwark, C a s t l e c r a g . 2068. HON. TREASURER: Margaret Olde, 138 Fowler Rd., I l lawong. 2234. SPORE BANK: S y l v i a G a r l i c k , 3 Valleyview Cres. , Engadine, 2233.

Dear Members. - Our August meet ing was an o u t i n g t o t h e Blue Mountains and I am

ve ry p leased t o s ay t h a t one of o u r members who enjoyed t h e day h a s t a k e n t h e t r o u b l e t o w r i t e an account of t h e o u t i n g which a p p e a r s l a t e r i n t h i s n e w s l e t t e r .

Our September mee t ing w a s a t t h e home of Geoff and Anne Long a t Camperdown, where we had lunch i n a l o v e l y c o u r t y a r d and a f t e r - wards d i s c u s s e d t h e f e r n s which a r e growing i n a small b u t v e r y a t t r a c t i v e s e t t i n g . rhank you Anne and Geof? f o r hav ing us .

We were i n v i t e d by l o c a l members of t h e r e i m S tudy Group t o a t t e n d t h e Newcastle S.G.A. P. Group's 9th Annual Wildflower E x h i b i t i o n which was h e l d on 15 th and 16 th of September. An exce l - l e n t d i s p l a y of f e r n s was a r r anged by t h e members. V i s i t o r s were amazed a t t h e number of n a t i v e f e r n s a v a i l a b l e . Bea and Roy Duncan, Lyn M i l l i n g t o n , P e t e r Tomkins and Tony C l a r k e a l l d i d a f i n e job t a l k i n g t o t h e many v i s i t o r s and v e r b a l l y l l s e l l i n g " them n a t i v e f e r n s . I hope t h e succe s s of t h i s e x h i b i t i o n w i l l encourage a l o t more members t o assist wi th t h e nex t e x h i b i t i o n .

The even t of t h e y e a r f o r Sydney members was, of cou r se , t h e S.G.A.P. New South Wales 1984 Wildf lower E x h i b i t i o n h e l d a t C a s t l e H i l l showground on 13 th and 14 th October.

The t imber s t r u c t u r e , 5 met res l ong , 3 met r e s wide and 1.5 met r e s h igh was used a g a i n t h i s yea r . lt was e r e c t e d on t h e Thursday p r i o r t o t h e e x h i b i t i o n w i t h t h e e x p e r t a s s i s t a n c e of David Ga r l i ck .

'l'he f e r n d i s p l a y was b e a u t i f u l l y and p r o f e s s i o n a l l y a r r anged by Sue Montgomery, wi th f e r n s s u p p l i e d by t h e Sydney Royal Botan ic Gardens, Nurseryman Kei th Wal lace , who s u p p l i e d a n o u t s t a n d i n g speciman i n a hanging b a s k e t of U a v a l l i a Bo l i da , and members of t h e Fern Study Group. 'I'hank you, t o a l l members who he lped with t h e d i s p l a y .

E a r l y l ' r i d a y morning, a h i r e d two tonne t r u c k complete w i th a d r i v e r , a r r i v e d t o t r a n s p o r t a l l t h e f e r n s t o C a s t l e H i l l showgraund. With t h e a s s i s t a n c e of K y r i l l 'Taylor we soon had t h e t r u c k f u l l y loaded and on t h e way. Ar thur S h a r p ve ry k i n d l y t o o k t h e l a r g e P la tycer ium superbum t o t h e e x h i b i t i o n and a f t e r w a r d s d e l i v e r e d i t t o t h e winner of t h e r a f f l e , who was M r . S t e e l of Wentworth- v i l l e wi th yel low t i c k e t (399.

A t t h e p r ev ious e x h i b i t i o n s , t h e f e r n s f o r s a l e have been d i s - played i n b u i l d i n g s , undercover . T h i s y e a r t h e p l a n t s a l e s were i n t h e open a r e n a of t h e showground, w i thou t any b u i l d i n g s . However, M r Alan Garnovale from Greenhouse world , came t o t h e r e s c u e by generous ly l o a n i n g and e r e c t i n g t h r e e shade houaee t o p r o t e c t t h e f e r n s from t h e h o t sun and d r y i n g winds. Many thanks t o M r . Carnova le f o r h i s a s s i s t a n c e .

The f e r n s a l e s were a g a i n ve ry s u c c e s s f u l . V i s i t o r s were impressed wi th t h e l a r g e v a r i e t y of n a t i v e f e r n s p r e sen t ed f o r s a l e . There were 79 d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s r e p r e s e n t i n g 37 genera . ~ l l s p e c i e s o f f e r e d f o r s a l e have been grown i n t h e Sydney area, some of t h e North Queensland f e r n s need ing some h e a t i n g d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months.

1 want t o thank t h e fo l l owing members who a b l y a s s i s t e d Viv i n t h e f e r n s a l e s a r e a ; Judy and dohn Marley, Bea and Hoy uuncan ( ~ e w c a s t l e ) , Joyce Sacco and Bery l Geekie. They a l l d i d an exce l - l e n t job under h o t d r y c o n d i t i o n s .

Those famous r a f f l e t i c k e t s e l l e r s , D r . Geoff Long and h i s w i f e Anne, who s o l d 300 r a f f l e t i c k e t s i n two hours , I t h i n k Geoff cou ld be i n t h e wrong p ro f e s s ion .

We were d e l i g h t e d t o have Molly and B i l l Murray w i th u s a g a i n f o r a s h o r t t ime. Molly kept h e r 'hand i n f by s e l l i n g some r a f f l e t i c k e t s . A p l e a s a n t s u r p r i s e was a v i s i t from Queensland members I r e n e and Russe l Z u l l e n who had a day a t t h e show and a f t e r w a r d s c a l l e d a t our home. I r e n e h a s promised t o keep u s up t o d a t e w i th t h e happenings i n h e r a r e a . Other i n t e r s t a t e members were John and Pau l i ne Green from t n e Nount Evelyn Fe rn Cen t r e who s u p p l i e d some of t h e co ld c l i m a t e f e r n s . They came from V i c t o r i a t o s e e how we o rgan i s ed t h e f e r n s f o r ou r e x h i b i t i o n .

The f e r n s a l e s would no t have such a s u c c e s s w i thou t t h e f u l l suppo r t of t h e s u p p l i e r s , who, i n some instances, held the f e r n s f o r ove r s i x months, including the winter season and then d e l i v e r e d t h e p l a n t s i n good c o n d i t i o n a t t h e tlme of t h e sale, Many thanks t o Carol and Arthur Stroud, Barrier Reef Nursery, C a i r n s , lris and David L i d d l e , Mareeba Queensland, and Elaine and I a n S l a d e of P e a t s Ridge. Elaine a n d Ian assisted i n t h e sales a r e a and I a n was l a t e r given t h e honour of judging the native orchids.

There were many more Fern S tudy Group members at t h e e x h i b i t i o n who were involved i n o t h e r work associated w i t h the Wildf lower e x h i b i t i o n and cou ld not g ive their time to t h e fern s e c t i o n ,

I hope nex t year we will g e t t h e same generous support from ou r members and p o s s i b l y o t h e r nurseries may have natlve f e r n s f o r s a l e .

Unfo r tunea t e ly our excu r s ion t o t h e Wattagan Mountains had t o be cance l l ed . About twelve i n c h e s of r a i n f e l l d u r i n g t h e week p r i o r t o t h e o u t i n g , which f looded t h e mountains and madel the f o r e s t r o a d s impassable . We hope t o make t h e t r i p a t a f u t u r e d a t e

The good news t o hand is t h a t a g roup of ou r members, i n Sou th Eas t Queensland, meet r e g u l a r l y a t each o t h e r s home& and a l s o have excu r s ions , u s u a l l y on t h e t h i r d Sunday of each month.

Any o t h e r members l i v i n g i n t h e a r e a o r i n t e r s t a t e v i s i t o r s a r e c o r d i a l l y i n v i t e d t o j o i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s . For more i n fo rma t ion r i n g Joyce Ward ( 0 7 ) 2890147 o r l r e n e C u l l e n ( 0 7 ) 3414272, Thank you I r e n e f o r your news i t em and I hope t h a t members from o t h e r s t a t e s w i l l l e t me have some news no m a t t e r how small t h e i tem.

1 have met some very n i c e members by u s i n g o u r membership l i s t when t r a v e l l i n g i r ' e r s t a t e , and have had v i s i t s from members from o t h e r s t a t e s .

Faye Low h a s r e s i g n e d from t h e p o s i t i o n of Hon. T r e a s u r e r a f t e r q u i t e a few y e a r s i n t h e p o s i t i o n . Thank you Faye f o r a job w e l l done and I hope you w i l l b e a b l e t o r e l a x a l i t t l e more wi th your f ami ly .

A w a r m welcome t o Margaret Olde ou r new t r e a s u r e r and I t m s u r e s h e w i l l c a r r y on from where !'aye h a s l e f t o f f .

PROGRAW E, Sunday. 1 7 t h February, 1 985.

Keet , a t 1 1 .00am a t t h e home of P h y l l i s and ~ i v . ~rolwn, 254 Fdgar s t r e e t , S o n d e l l Park. P l e a s e b r i n g your l unch and a f o r a f t e r n o o n t e a . Sa tu rday and Sunday,23rd. - --- and 24th. Mzrch, 1985.

Burrendong Arboretum, T r o p i c a l Shade Area. Members a r e r eques t ed t o make t h e i r own accommodation Arrange-

ments. A t t h e ca ravan park t h e r e a r e ' o n - s i t e ' c a r avans which need t o be r e se rved . 'There a r e 76 d r i v e th rough powered ca r avan s i t e s which cannot be r e s e r v e d and a r e i s s u e d on f i r s t come b a s i s . R e s e r v a t i o n s f o r t h e ca r avans can be made by te1ephon.e t o Manager S t a t e Rec rea t i on Area, Burrendong D a m , Mumbil. 28203 (0681467435

There w i l l be a bar-b-que a t t h e ca r avan park oln s a t u r d a y n i g h t .

CULTVRAL NOTES - FERNS By Arthur Stroud, B a r r i e r Reef Nursery, Deeral , North; Queensland .

Ground Fern6 -- i n General and North Quaensland Hativee & Particular. HI. -

We have found our b e s t r e s u l t s have been achieved s i n c e we lowered our own pH t o around 5. (This does nut n e c e s s a r i l y inc lude Maiden Hairs as we have not grown t h e s e i n any q u a n t i t y and a r e no t f u l l y i n tune with t h e i r requirements) .

Probleme encountered with h ighe r @I rere; l a c k of vigorous g ro r th ; ~ u e c e p t i b i l i t y t o fungal a t t a c k and browning of f o l i a g e . Epiphyt ic Ferns.

A l l ep iphytes p r e f e r a more open mix than ground f e r n s and l i k e t o be kept on t h e d r i e r s ide . More of t h e s e f e r n s d i e from overwatering than from dry condi t ions . High humidity is a genera l requirement f o r t h e i r wel l being. This can easily be achieved by keeping t h e f l o o r of t h e bush house watered dur lng d ry periods. P o t t i = Mix. (For d l Ferns),

Should be l i g h t , w e l l a e r a t e d and moisture r e t e n t i v e , b u t f r e e dra in ing . When t h e pot i s f i l l e d you should be a b l e t o water heav i ly (1.e. l a r g e volume a t low p ressu re ) and t h e s u r p l u s should immediately d isappear from t h e sur face . I f t h i s does not occur , i t i n d i c a t e s i n s u f f i c i e n t a i r spaces i n t h e mix, and optimum growth w i l l not be achieved.

We have found f e r n s should be wel l watered be fo re p o t t i n g on i n t o moistened mix. lt is important t h a t t h e crown of t h e f e r n should not be covered with t h e mix and t h e f e r n should be s e t t l e d i n t o t h e mix by shaking t h e pot, r a t h e r than firming. Ferns p lan t - ed i n t h i s manner should not be watered heavkly as t h i s compacts t h e mix and removes a i r spaces as we l l as n u t r i e n t s . A l i g h t periodfc sprayXng of t h e foliage f o r a few days is a l l t h a t is required t o s t o p the plant and mix from dry ing out . Tubes pot ted on i n this manner will e s t a b l i s h themselves more speed i ly than i f kept aodden. If old soil is removed from t h e r o o t s when p o t t u g on, some of the fins h a i r r o o t s w i l l be destroyed and t h e p L a n t r l l l b e u n a b l e t o t a k e u p a s m u c h w a t e r a s b e f o r e a n d t h e "

spraying over t h e fronda will be of more b e n e f i t t han a s a t u r a t e d mix which may lead t o fungal. o r b a c t e r i a l a t t a c k of t h e damaged . Soot6 Our Pot t ing Mix. -

One p a r t peatmoss 1 kg man tosan 4D per cubic Two p a r t s eedge peat metre. Two p a r t e r i c e h u l l s 500g Blood and bone "

500g Superphosphat e 100g l r o n Chela te t~

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L i g h t * Correc t l i g h t is a l s o most important f o r optimum gror th .

Whilst most f e r n s w i l l su rv ive i n dim l i g h t , they a l l . r e a p o n d better i n s t rong, f i l t e r e d , o r i n d i r e c t l i g h t , and some grow i n f u l l sun. Water requirements a r e h ighe r i n s t r o n g l i g h t .

RED CARPEP. -- We wish t o extend a w a r m welcome t o t h e fo l lowing member~:-

BL - flu -

IECHNUM

viatile

BLECHNI charnbersi

I3!. ::cliYuv

pennn - - n:nrini?,

STERILE FRONDS

( ACTUAL SIZE ) 1

FAMILY - Blechnac eae Linnaeus. GENUS - Blechnam -

(Bleck'num) This is a l a r g e genus of about 180 spec ie s , t h e ma jo r i ty

occur i n t h e Southern Hemisphere. There a r e about 18 s p e c i e s found growing n a t u r a l l y i n Aus t ra l i a .

The f e r n s a r e mainly t e r r e s t r i a l , growing i n wet s i t u a t i o n s ( t h e common name of water f e r n has been given t o t h i s genus) , The f ronds a r e gene ra l ly dimorphic, probably two exceptions, The f e r t i l e f ronds a r e much narrower than t h e s t e r i l e ones. The s o r i is formed i n a cont inuous row on each s i d e of t h e midrib.

The t h r e e s p e c i e s i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h i s news le t t e r a r e found growing i n t h e c o l d e r s t a t e s and i n h ighe r a l t i t u d e s . Blechnum chambersi i

This f e r n was previous ly known a s Lomaria l a n c e o l a t a and was first introduced i n t o t h e Kew Royal Gardens, from Tasmania and New Z ealand , i n 1 833.

The rhizome i s s h o r t c reeping , t h e f ronds semi e r e c t , l a n c e o l a t e with t h e middle pinnae t h e longes t , p i n n a t i f i d , dark green i n colour . Th i s f e r n is p l e n t i f u l i n V i c t o r i a and Tasmania growing i n wet s o i l on c reek banks i n s h e l t e r e d condi t ions .

This spec ie s w i l l grow i n t h e ground, in pots , under shade house cond i t ions i n t h e Sydney area. Blechnum f l u v i a t i l e .

The rhizome is t u f t e d , producing underground stolons.The f ronds l i g h t green up t o 60 cm long, spreading t o form a r o s e t t e , t h e f e r t i l e f ronds e r e c t s h o r t e r and narrower than t h e s t e r i l e ones. The pinnae of t h e s t e r i l e f ronds a r e s h o r t , oblong and a t t ached by t h e broad bases t o t h e rhachio.

A b e a u t i f u l speciman of t h i s f e r n , with f ronds 60cm long was seen growing a t t h e bare of M t . Wellington, Tasmania.

The s p e c i e s grows i n similar c o n d i t i o n s t o B. chambersi i bu t w i l l grow a t h ighe r a l t i t u d e s .

This f e r n w i l l grow i n t h e Sydney a r e a under c u l t i v a t i o n , i n t h e ground under shade. Blec hnum penna-marina .

This is the sma l l e s t s p e c i e s of Blechnum growing i n Aus t ra l i a . The rhizome is s l ende r , s h o r t c reeping , t h e f ronds semi e r e c t

growing t o about l5cm long. The f e r t i l e f ronds t a l l e r with narrower pinnae. This f e r n grows i n a matted ground-corer. It h a s been seen growing i n i c y waters i n t h e s t reams of Mount Kosciusko and i n sphag- num moss on t h e h ighlands of c e n t r a l n e a s t af.Rew South Wales.

Two co lon ies of B. penna-marina are growing under c u l t i v a t i o n i n a Tropica l Hainfores t Area a t t h e Burrendong Arboretum near Wellington i n Cen t ra l West of New South Wales. One group h a s been planted under f u l l shade on t h e wet bank of a waterway which rune

. t h r o u g h t h e area. l'he o t h e r l o t h a s been planted on a dry s h a l e bank with l i g h t l y f i l t e r e d shade.

This f e r n i s being grown i n t h e ground under shade i n t h e Sydney aimea.

Hlechnum penna-marina is found growing n a t u r a l l y i n New South Wales, Vic to r i a , *fasmania, New Zealand and South America. A s p e c i e s B. penna-marina subspecies alpinum is l i s t e d i n "A Guide t o Hardy FernsM by Richard Rush a s being found i n t h e same a r e a s a6 B. penna-marina with t h e except ion of AustralXan S t a t e s . It is suggested t h e subspecies may a l s o grow i n t h i s country. The subspecies is similar B. penna-marina but t h e f e r t i l e f ronds do not have t h e long s t i p e and t h e pinnae a r e more crowded.

A c r e s t e d form of Blechnum penna-marimhaa been found bu t t h e r e does not appear t o be any record of s i g h t i n g s i n Aus t ra l i a ,

I

The fo l lowing e x t r a c t , from t h e October , 1984, Burrendong Arboretum Brigge, i s of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t t o members of t h e Fern Study Group ;-

BURIr'ENDONG ARBORETUM PROPOSXD EXTENSION -- TO THE TROPICAL SHADE AREA, --

Es t ima te of c o s t s . Anchor b locks - s t e e l re in forcement & f i t t i n g s -

Roof c a b l e s & f i t t i n g s 3 13622 Anchor b locks - c o n c r e t e (45 cub ic me t r e s ) 5438 Hinge j o i n t mesh f o r cove r ing (20 r o l l s ) % 2800

Cos t of m a t e r i a l s J 23904

H i r e of cement pump S 700 H i r e of v i b r a t o r 8 55 F r e i g h t 8 300 Board & Lodging v o l u n t e e r workers $4140 Sundr i e s & Cont ingenc ies $ 901

Cost of Const~ruc t i o n 'ti 6096 Est imated T o t a l Cost of P r o j e c t 8 30000

A s be fo re we s h a l l endeavour t o have t h e a c t u a l work done on a vo lun t a ry b a s i s .

The r ea sons f o r b u i l d i n g t h i s new Shade Area a r e t h r e e : ( 1 ) The e x i s t i n g Area i s f u l l of p l a n t s , ( 2 ) we are continuing t o g e t , from our c o l l e c t o r s , a l o t of v a l u a b l e plant material which, f o r i t s s a t i s f a c t o r y growth, can on ly be grown under such a s t r u c t u r e , and ( 3 ) pub l i c a p p r e c i a t i o n of t h e present Shade Area i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e growing of such p l a n t s under such con- d i t i o n s a t Burrendong is f u l f i l l i n g a publ ic requirement .

T h i s new Shade Area w i l l be about f o u r t imes t h e s i z e of t h e o r i g i n a l one. The suspended roof w i l l c ove r a n a r e a of approximately 4000 s q u a r e metres , about an a c r e of ground, and w i l l be, a t t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t about 3 0 f e e t above ground l e v e l . T h i s w i l l enab le r e l a t i v e l y t a l l p l a n t s t o be grown under it.

We a l r e a d y have r ece ived d o n a t i o n s i n exces s of 93000 f o r t h i s p r o j e c t bu t we need more.

If you would l i k e t o he lp i n t h e construction of t h i s new Shade Area by making a dona t ion would you please send i t t o our lion. Treasurer N r K. Holmes, "Noonee-NyrangIq Gulgong Road, Wellington. N,S,W, 2820 and i n d i c a t e that i t is s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t h e T.S.A. ( ~ r o p i c a l Shade Area ) . Any d o n a t i o n s w i l l be extremely helpful and very welcome."

The fo l l owing dona t i ons , t o t h e new T r o p i c a l Shade Area, have been r e c e i v e d and acknowledged, i n t h e Brigge. llNewcastle S.G.A. P. 5200-00 Warringah S . G. A. P. $200-00 B. & C. F r a s e r $ 20-00 Peach f ami ly $ 5-80 R. Pogonaski $ 10-00 A . Bondanie $ 10-00

Anonymous $20-00 These c o n t r i b u t i o n s a r e very g r e a t l y app rec i a t ed .

Publ ished by c o u r t e s y of t h e Burrendong Arboretum Brigge.

Old Chinese Proverb, - I f you want t o be happy f o r an hour, g e t drunk, I f you want t o be happy f o r t h r e e days , g e t mar r ied , I f you want t o be happy f o r e i g h t days , k i l l your p i g and e a t i t , I f you want t o be happy f o r eve r , make a f e rne ry .

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DID YOU KNOW - - The fo l l owing adv i ce h a s been supp l i ed by a Queensland member;-

' "The F o r e s t y Commission i n Queensland does no t muck ardund w i th ' l i g h t f i n g e r e d ' t y p e s - i t is $2000-00 f i n e and c o n f i s c a t i o n o f v e h i c l e , i f caught."

AN EXCURSION TO A FKW NATIVE FERN GLUES I N THE BLUE MOUNTAlN6 - - A-- - --- AUtiUST 1 984. BJ -- RAY BEST .

Led by Phy l l Brown, members met a t t h e Hydro m a j e s t i c H o t e l a t Medlow ~ a t h on t h e t i r e a t Western Highway (which v i r t u a l l y f o l l o w s t h e o r i g i n a l pa th of Blax land , Wentworth and Lawson t h e p i o n e e r s who made t h e f i r s t c r o s s i n g of t h e Blue n o u n t a i n s ) * Cars proceeded up t h e highway t o Blackhea th , c r o s s i n g t h e r a i l w a y l i n e t o t h e S h i p l e y Megalong road , t u r n i n g o f f a h i p l e y road t o ~ e n t e n n i a l Glen. U n f o r t u n a t e l y a c o l d and v i c i o u s win! g r e e t e d u s ; wa lk ing c a r e f u l l y t o avo id b e i n g blown o f f t h e t r a q k we observed many l a r g e s t a n d s o f G l e i c h e n i a mic rophyl la . Other a r e a s o f t h e mountains f e a t u r e most ly G l e i c h e n i a d i ca rpa . Here a l q o benea th and p r o t e c t e d by t h e G le i chen i a were s e v e r a l p l a n t s o f Lycopodium l a t e r a l e , Blechnum wat tsi i and Blechnum ambiguum were p r e s e n t i n mois t p r o t e c t e d pos i - t i o n s . Here a l s o i n d r y s i t u a t i o n s were L iqds aea l i n e a r i s and L indsaea mic rophy l l a , bo th of t h e s e f e r n s t enac iouq i n n a t u r e a r e d i f f i c u l t i n c u l t i v a t i o n . A s t h e wind became unbea rab l e we r e t u r n e d t o t h e Megalong road which descends r a p i d l y down a deep gorge which f o l l o w s t h e c o u r s e of P u l p i t H i l l Creek. T h i s i s one o f t h e e a r l i e s t r o a d s t o p e n e t r a t e t o t h e v a l l e y f l o o r . One a i d e of t h e road i s f l anked by enormous overhanging s ands tone c l i f f s , t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e i s rugged b u t l e s s p r e c i p i t o u s . About h a l f way down qo th s i d e s a r e surrounded by r a i n f o r e s t w i t h many t r e e f e r n s , D ickson i a a n t a r c t i c a , Cyathea a u s t r a l i s now A l s o p h i l a a u s t r a l i s and Todea barbara .

We s topped t o i n s p e c t t h i s f e r n r i c h a r e a ; bo th P u l p i t H i l l Creek and Back Creek t h a t r u n a d j a c e n t t o t h e road c a r r y c r y s t a l c l e a r wa t e r which never c e a s e s t o r u n ( p o s s i b l y f e d by a s p r i n g ) . Growing i n p r o f u s i o n were Blechnum w a t t s i i , Blechnum nudum,also a c r e s t e d s p e c i e s of Blechnum nudum, Blechnuq c a r t i l a g i n e u m , Doodia a s p e r a , Doodia c auda t a , Doodia media, P y r r o s i a r u p e s t r i s , Micro- sorum scandens , Microsorum d i v e r s i f o l i u m , L a s t r e o p s i s acuminata , Polys t ichum p ro l i f e rum, Polys t ichum a u s t r a J i e n s e , P e l l a e a f a l c a t a , P e l l a e a f a l c a t a var. nana, Asplenium f lacc idum, H i s t i o p t e r i s i n c i s a , S t i c h e r u s f l a b e l l a t u s and many s p e c i e s of Filmy f e r n s ,

F o r t u n a t e l y t h i s a r e a was p r o t e c t e d from t h e wind by t h e s t e e p g u l l y walls c r e a t i n g t h e i d e a l c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e growth of s o many n a t i v e s p e c i e s .

One major problem w i t h t h i s road t o Megalong Va l l ey is t h a t i t i s j u s t wide enough f o r c a r s t o pass b u t l e a v e s l i t t l e p r o v i s i o n f o r parking. F o r t u n a t e l y j u s t p a s t t h i s r a i n f o r e s t a r e a a t r a c k l e a d s from t h e r i g h t hand s i d e of t h e road t h a t a l l o w s r e a s o n a b l e parking. Then a s h o r t walk up a l l o w s a c l o s e i n s p e c t i o n of t h e f e r n s .

I t may be of i n t e r e s t t h a t one of t h e f i r s t p i o n e e r s t o r e a c h t h e v a l l e y f l o o r a t Megalong was t h e bushranger Po r t e r . I unders tand h e had two methods u s i n g a very s u r e f oo t ed horse . On one such r o u t e

h e l e f t t h e Western Highway a t E x p l o r e r s T ree j u s t beyond Katoomba (Marked a t t h e t ime of t h e c r o s s i n g ) and proceeded down a w a t e r f a l l . He t hen fol lowed Megalong Creek on what cou ld on ly be d e s c r i b e d as a c r a s h c o u r s e u n t i l i t jo ined Coxs River . T h i s h e con t i nued down t o t h e j u n c t i o n of t h e Wol lond i l l y R ive r and t h e t h e n Warragamba R ive r , t hen u p t h e Wol lond i l l y t o camp i n Burrogorang Val ley . L a t e r procee- d i n g o u t of t h e upper r e a c h e s of t h e v a l l e y t o ho ld u p coaches on t h e Southern Highway.

Having t r a v e r s e d t h e s e r o u t e s as a l a d made me r e a l i s e how much t h e l a t e r development of t h e s e v a l l e y s was s p u r r e d by men l i k e P o r t e r .

About t h e t ime of my f i r s t t r i p s , f o u r p ionee r f a m i l i e s had fa rms i n t h e Burragorang Val ley: - James, Quigs,Maxwells and P ipp ins . Warragamba Dam now c o v e r s t h i s a r e a w i th wate r t o f o u r and one t h i r d t i m e s t h e c a p a c i t y of Sydney Harbour. One wonders how t h e s e p ionee r f a m i l i e s f e l t when f o r c e d t o l e a v e t h i s once magn i f i c en t v a l l e y .

WANTED. One b a l e of sphagnum moss.

I f anyone can h e l p would you p l e a s e c o n t a c t Ar thur Sharp, 20 Kirby S t r e e t , Rydalmere. N.S.W. 2116.

Our las t meet ing f o r t h i s yeas , was a d e l i g h t f u l day, s p e n t a t t h e home of Margaret and P e t e r Olde a t I l lawong.

Two weeks ago a b u s h f i r e came p e r i l o u s l y c l o s e t o t h e house b u t d i d n o t c ause any s e r i o u s damage. Members were g iven a guided t o u r of t h e l o v e l y n a t i v e garden and f e r n house by t h e o f f i c i a l t o u r gu ide , S y l v i a Gar l i ck .

A l l members enjoyed themselves wi th l o t s of f i n e food and d r i n k s p l u s f e r n s , b a s k e t s and l i n e r s donated by members. Every one went home wi th a p re sen t .

We were very p leased t o have George Parker w i th u s , as he h a s now moved t o h i s new home a t 23 Dungaruba Road, Broadwater.

It was dec ided a t t h e meet ing t o dona t e $1000-00 t o t h e T r o p i c a l Shade Area a t t h e Burrendong Arboretum.

The f i r s t meeting f o r 1985 w i l l be he ld a t my home, and I hope t o s e e as many of t h e 110 Sydney members as c a n p o s s i b l y a t t e n d .

I f t h e r e a r e any t r a n s p o r t problems p l e a s e t e l ephone me on 7056413. There cou ld be a member coming from your area who could g i v e you a l i f t , a l s o Bankstown r a i l w a y s t a t i o n is q u i t e c l o s e .

I want t o thank you a l l very much f o r your h e l p and suppor t d u r i n g t h e yea r , which I hope you have enjoyed.

I want t o wish our members i n a l l s t a t e s , a v e r y happy and peace fu l Chris tmas and New Year and if you a r e t r a v e l l i n g on t h e roads , p l e a s e t a k e c a r e .

MERRY CHRISTMAS

( ~ r s ) P h y l l Brown - Leader Fern Study Group - S.G.A.P.