BY FRED. TURNER. 133 



altitude, and nearly level plains, the last-named forming by far 

 the greater portion of this area. Some of these plains consist of 

 black soil, others of red loam, while considerable tracts are of a 

 sandy nature. Much of the land bordering the rivers and creeks 

 is rich alluvial deposits. Those are the principal soils of the 

 South- West, but there are many others of an intermediate 

 character. The surface of some of the ranges and hills is partly 

 composed of rock or loose stones, whilst that of others is even 

 and clothed with grass and herbage from base to summit. Some 

 are called " bald hills " because they are bare of trees, but on a 

 number arboreal and shrubby vegetation is growing. There are 

 immense, treeless plains, separated here and there by large belts 

 of timber; and considerable areas of open forest, scrub, pine, 

 and mallee country. On the plains, when the atmospheric con- 

 ditions were favourable, I have often seen a mirage of beautiful 

 trees and lakes of clear water, and the effect is very remarkable, 

 especially to one standing on sun-baked earth almost destitute 



of herbage. 



Climate. 



Temperature at Hay. 



Mean temperature 



Mean Summer temperature ... 



Mean Winter temperature 



Highest temperature (shade) . . . 



Lowest temperature (shade) ... 



The temperature will range from a few degrees higher in the 

 extreme west to a few degrees lower in the extreme east, but 

 those mentioned will give a good idea of the climate of South- 

 Western New South Wales. 



Rainfall. 



The average annual rainfall at Hay is 14 J inches, but it ranges 

 from 12 inches at Wentworth to 19| inches in the extreme east. 



Water. 

 The South- West is naturally rather well watered by parts of 

 the following rivers and their tributaries — Darling, Lachlan, 



