BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 683 



the wettest months, while Fehruai-y is usually the driest. The 

 annual rainfall at the Capital City site may be estimated at 

 somewhere about 21 or 22 inches. 



The effect of climate upon the native vegetation is largely 

 regulated by the question of aspect. Broadly speaking, Eastern 

 New 8outh Wales has two dominating aspects, the eastern or 

 moist, and the western or dry. 



The rain comes chieHy from the eastern or ocean-side, and is 

 precipitated by the cooling or ascending clouds on the mountain- 

 sides and summits; when the clouds pass beyond the summits 

 and commence to descend, the precipitation is reduced. This 

 applies also to clouds coming from the west. The result of this 

 natural law may be seen in the Braid wood district, about 40 

 miles nearer the coast than Canberra, and at a distance of only 

 35 miles from the ocean, for Braid wood is largely shut off from 

 full coastal influence by a mountain-range a dozen miles away 

 and known as Budawang, to the east of which the rainfall is 

 (juite 40 inches, while at Braid.wood it is only about 27 inches. 

 Similar conditions are found at many places towards the eastern 

 edge of the plateau in this State. 



A great portion of the Capital Territory, especially along the 

 depressed iMurrumbidgee valley, is sheltered by north and south 

 ranges on either side, as well as for the most part on the south, 

 the result being that, to a large extent, it is the descending clouds 

 from east, west, and south which pass over this area, and the 

 rainfall in the valley is, in consequence, less than on the hill- 

 sides. Evidence of this may be seen in the resultant flora. 

 Moreover, the clouds from the coast, after passing over the 

 Territory, encounter the high range known in part as Brinda- 

 bella Mountain, forming the western boundary extending from 

 Bimberi to Coree, and on its slopes deposit much of their 

 load. Asa result, this is the area in which is found the most 

 robust and comparatively luxuriant vegetation in the Capital 

 Territory, including splendid examples of tree-ferns (Dicksoiiia 

 antarctica), ten feet high, which, at about 3,000 feet above sea- 

 level, are nestling under the shelter of Mount Coree, and facing 

 the eastern or moist aspect. 



