APPENDIX. Ill 



limestone mountains of the Darling range, which rise about 

 2000 feet above the sea, and are covered with evergreen 

 trees. 



Dr. Milligan observes, that " the soil is of three dijBTerent 

 kinds — 1st, sandy — 2nd, alluvial — 3rd, red loam; the first 

 is found near the coast, and, though unpromising in appear- 

 ance, trees, shrubs, and grasses grow on it abundantly, and 

 with the assistance of manure excellent esculent vegetables 

 are obtained from it, as the valuable gardens in the farms of 

 Perth and Freemantle sufficiently testify. The second, or 

 alluvial, is in extensive flats, and produces admirable crops 

 of wheat, barley, oats, &c. without any assistance from 

 manure. The third, or red loam, which is met with on the 

 high ground on the banks of the rivers, produces the same 

 crops as the alluvial, but requires the assistance of manure. 

 There is a great deal of subterraneous moisture, which ap- 

 pears to be retained by a sub-soil of clay, which is to be met 

 with at an average depth of five or six feet." 



Mr. Frazer made the same remark as to the abundance 

 of water near the surface. He says that he was very much 

 astonished at the beautiful dark-green and vigorous appear- 

 ance of the trees, considering that the season had been un- 

 usually dry ; but he found the cause to depend upon the 

 great quantity of springs with which the country abounds. 

 On penetrating two feet into the earth he found the soil 

 perfectly moist, and he felt confident that if he had pene- 

 trated a foot deeper he should have found water. 



Concerning the climate, which Mr. Frazer describes as 

 " the most delightful he ever experienced," we have some 

 good information from Dr. Milligan. The hottest months 

 are December, January, and February ; the greatest heat 

 observed in four years was 106° Fahr. in January, 1831, 

 and the least was 33" in July of the same year. The mean 

 of the hottest month was 78", and of the coldest 54°. 84. 

 Between nine and ten inches of rain fell in July, 1830, and 

 June, 1833, while in January there was less than an inch; 

 the summer months being hot and dry, the winter very wet 

 and comparatively cold ; the whole amount of rain that fell 

 in 1830 was 32.142 inches, and, in 1833, 26.925 inches. 



Among the introduced plants we are informed of the 

 following facts. Along the banks of the rivers may be seen 

 fields of wheat, barley, oats, peas, potatoes, turnips, pump- 



