1839.] VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL KINGDOMS, 267 



The upper soil is a rich vegetable mould, or sandy, or argil- 

 laceous. A large portion of the island is adapted to cultiva- 

 tion : there are immense tracts of the finest land lying along 

 the coast ; and in the interior, there are extensive reaches 

 of prairie, covered with thrifty herbage, and already fitted by 

 Nature for the plough. 



Lands were at first granted to the voluntary settlers, — 

 the average price per acre ranging from five to six shillings, 

 English currency. Subsequently they were sold at auction. 

 Great quantities were thus disposed of, yet it is estimated 

 that there are full eleven millions of acres on the island still 

 ungranted. 



Europeans are much sooner acclimatized in Tasmania, 

 than in New South Wales. The climate is more healthy, 

 and the changes of temperature more regular in their recur- 

 rence ; happily, too, the extremes of drought and flood so 

 common in Australia, are not witnessed here. The winters 

 are colder, and the summers more mild, than in the neigh- 

 borhood of Sydney. 



Vegetation is much the same as in Southern Australia. 

 The same trees, plants, and flowers, with few exceptions, are 

 found in tolerable profusion. The most valuable timber 

 trees are the Huon and Adventure bay pines, and the black 

 wood, which last is peculiar to the island. Apples, currants, 

 plums, and gooseberries, attain maturity, but the peaches and 

 grapes are quite inferior. Citrons, oranges, and pomegran- 

 ates, are not raised. Agriculture is yet in a backward state, 

 rather on account of the improper or deficient culture, than 

 the inferiority of the soil: The latter is probably better cal- 

 culated for grazing than cropping, and the climate is alto- 

 gether too cold for maize. Wool is the staple product of the 

 colony, and the amount sheared is said to double every ten 

 years. The stock of horses and cattle is also very large, and 

 goats are quite numerous. 



The animal kingdom is likewise similar to that of Aus-r 

 tralia. Kangaroos are more plenty, however ; but there is 

 no native dog. Still, his place is well filled by the forester, 



