e others presented a still ruder
appearance, being frames of wood covered loosely with bark, only one
degree better than the bark shelters of the aborigines in northern
Queensland. At some of the railroad stations a faint effort is made at
the cultivation of flowers, and occasionally pretty effects are produced
by planting California pines in groups or borders, mingled with some
other species of imported trees, mostly of the conifer family,--their
foliage, by its choice verdure, putting the native trees to shame,
though they are known as evergreens: there are indeed no deciduous
native trees in Australia. Here and there a small orchard of
orange-trees was seen, the fruit in its deep-yellow glow standing out
against the surrounding foliage in bold relief. The traveller meets with
no more delightful experience than when approaching an orange-orchard in
full bloom. For a mile before the place is reached, the fragrant
atmosphere foretells the coming pleasure to the senses. This is oftenest
realized in the West Indies, or in Florida. Here it was not the season
of the bloom but of the fruit. A few gardens of tropical aspect, with
groups of bananas, were also observed; but to see this most generous of
all fruit-trees in perfection, one must go north toward the Equator,
into Queensland.

Now and again a few thousand sheep were seen, and some small herds of
horned cattle feeding on the hillsides or browsing among the forest
glades; but the true pastoral districts are much farther inland. At
Albury the Murray River was crossed, which here makes the boundary
between New South Wales and Victoria, though which side of the
watercourse belongs to the former and which to the latter is a constant
source of dispute between them. An examination of baggage took place at
Albury, as though the traveller were passing from one European
nationality to another. The two colonies, however, have tariffs
materially differing from each other, and duty is demanded upon all
merchandise passing either way between them. The custom-house officers
are quite discriminating, and unless they have reason to suspect a
person of designs against the customs they do not put him to unnecessary
trouble in the examination of his effects.

Not until one comes to within fifty or sixty miles of Melbourne upon
this route does the country become attractive; but here it begins to
open into broad green fields and rich meadows, forming a choice
succession of agricultural d