BY H. H. CAMBAGE. 311 



Soutli Wales'*^. Its situation is just on the western side of the 

 Great Dividing Range, which gives it, for the most part, a 

 western rather than an eastern aspect, but being so near the 

 divide, the locality is one in which the eastern and western 

 floras mingle to some extent. The elevation above sea-level of 

 the country around Cooma approximates 2,700 feet, while that 

 in the vicinity of Nimitybelle and to the eastward, approaches 

 4,000 feet. The average annual rainfall at Cooma is scarcely 20 

 inches, but at Nimitybelle it amounts to nearly 26 inches. 



It is remarkable that such an extensive tract of country as 

 that known as the Monaro Plains, should naturally be almost 

 destitute of trees and shrubs. From about 10 miles north of 

 Cooma, southward almost to Nimitybelle, and then extending 

 westerly to the Snowy River at Dalgety and towards Jindabyne, 

 the country is made up of clear undulating plains, with only a 

 few isolated tree-clad localities. Much of this area is covered 

 with basalt of probably Tertiary age, furnishing a rich soil; but, 

 although countless ages must have passed since the present condi- 

 tions originated, some influence has continued to operate against 

 the natural afforestation of this large extent of countr3\ It seems 

 probable that the absence of sheltering hills and gorges, and the 

 insuflicienc}^ of the rainfall over an area swept by cold winds, 

 have been factors in preventing the larger forms of plant-lift; 

 from spreading more rapidly over these plains, for it must b<' 

 remembered that in latitude 36|°, and at an altitude of about 

 3,000 feet above sea-level, with a snow-clad mountain like 

 Kosciusko within 50 miles, the conditions for several months in 

 the year must be exceedingly bleak The presence of deep 

 gorges leading up into the plateau would have had the eff'ect of 

 affording shelter for the growth of trees which might gradually 

 acclimatise themselves to the higher levels, and so spread over 

 the tableland. The formation of gorges would be assisted by an 

 increased rainfall, especially if distributed as occasional toriential 

 storms. Probably the moderately low rainfall on Monaro, in 



* Cambage, R. H., " Climatic aud Geological Influence on the Flora of 

 N. S. Wales." Report Aust. Assoc. Adv. Science for 1907, p 473. 



