114 VEGETATION OF LORD HOWE ISLAND 



Meteorology. 



Reference is suggested to Mr. H. C. Russell's paper* on the 

 subject, showing the mildness of the climate. It is a windy 

 island, perhaps in some measure caused by the great height of 

 the mountains for so small an island. I was informed that it is 

 no uncommon thing for it to blow strongly for three months at a 

 stretch. The gusts are so strong that the houses are built low, 

 and verandahs are unknown. Care is taken not to leave about 

 such objects as the wind may take hold of and blow away. In 

 consequence the " wind-break " question is perhaps the most 

 important on the island, and most writers lay emphasis upon it. 

 Every patch of cultivation is protected by belts of indigenous or 

 planted trees, and these wind-breaks are watched with the 

 greatest solicitude. The air is also humid and laden with saline 

 matter ; this was greatly against the preservation of botanical 

 specimens. I was on the island during stormy weather, and the 

 wind took up the sand and blew it with such force that it stung 

 our faces, and our horse would not face it. Again, the salt spray 

 blew nearly across the island, in one place blasting the vegetation 

 as if it had been scalded. The rainfall is probably high. Much 

 rain fell during our stay, and we saw many signs of land-slips of 

 various degrees of magnitude, some of them of much importance. 



As regards wind-breaks, the average Australian settler begins 

 by cutting down as much vegetation as he can. This was the 

 policy of the early settlers in Lord Howe Island, or at all events 

 the clearings they made were often injudiciously chosen; in con- 

 sequence the wind yearly makes sad havoc with the openings 

 already made, and further trees crash down during every storm. 



The most generally useful wind-breaks are Oleanders. There 

 are also Norfolk Island Pines (Arancaria excelsa) and Lagunaria 

 Patersom, indigenous to Lord Howe Island. To a less extent, 

 and with varying success, Eucalyptus glohiilus, Buddleia f/lobosa, 



* The Climate of Lord Howe Island. Journ. ct Proc. Boy. Soc. iV.*S'. IF. 

 xxix,, 512, (1895). 



