230 



South Wales in great luxuriance, (with the exception of some 

 seen on the banks at Point Fraser.) Bastard and real Blue 

 Gum is seen here in considerable quantities and of great size. 

 The opposite bank is high, and covered with Etu:alyptus and 

 Banksia — the soil a light sandy loam. 



From the above point, the country resembles, in its features, 

 that which borders all the rivers of New South Wales 

 whose course is west of the Blue Mountains, varying alter- 

 nately on each bank into hilly points and extensive flats. 

 The hills are covered with magnificent Angophora^, Zamias, 

 and ZanthorhcBa. The soil a rich red loam of very great • 

 depth, throwing up a luxuriant herbage, amongst which I 

 observed Anigozanthus rufa. Clematis aristata, and a beauti- 

 ful species of Borya. (?) The flats, which are composed of 

 the richest brown loam, equal to any on the east coast, are 

 thinly studded with gigantic Blue Gums, and occasional stripes 

 of suffi'utescent Acacias and papilionaceous shrubs, occupying 

 in this country the same situation in the geography of its 

 botany as the Green Wattle in that of New South Wales. 

 Banksia and Zamia are still seen on the high lands. 



It is worthy of remark, that, in New South Wales, the 

 presence of Banksia, Zamia, and Zanthorhcea are considered 

 sure criterions of a bad soil, and such being the impression 

 on my mind, I pronounced all the land on which they were 

 seen to grow to be sterile, until I examined a ridge on the 

 banks, producing them in great luxuriance; when, to my 

 astonishment, I found the soil to be a red earth of great 

 depth, producing the most luxuriant Brome grass. 



In proportion as we ascend the river, the flats increase in 

 breadth and luxuriance, each being backed by a terrace of 

 forest land of the finest description, extending for miles from 

 the river, and resembling in character those seen on the 

 banks of the Macquarie River, west of Wellington Valley. 

 On farther observation, towards the source of the river, those 

 flats were seen to extend to the base of the mountains, inter- 

 spersed with stripes of good forest land, on which I observed 

 a considerable portion of stringy hark. The variety of plants 

 seen on this tract was great : amongst the new ones observed, 



