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THE VEGETATION OF NEW ENGLAND, NEW SOUTH 



WALES. 



By Fred. Turner, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., etc. 



Introduction. 



Between the parallels 29° and 3F South and the meridians 

 151° 20' and 152^' 20' East lies that portion of New South Wales 

 called New England. Its exact geographical limits have, at one 

 time and another, been the cause of considerable controversy, 

 but as far as this paper is concerned it comprises that portion of 

 the State which extends northwards along the Dividing Ean^e 

 from a little south of Armidale to the Queensland border. It is 

 about 140 miles long by about 60 broad, and has an area of about 

 5,376,000 acres. The configuration of this area consists of a 

 series of plateaux and a considerable extent of both steeply and 

 gently undulating country. There are also many rugged hills 

 and deep gorges. It rises from an altitude of 3,265 feet at Armi- 

 dale to 5,000 at Ben Lomond, falling again to 2,831 feet at 

 Tenterfield. The average elevation is about 3,500 feet. Although 

 this portion of New South Wales is only about 80 or 90 miles 

 distant in a straight line from the South Pacific Ocean, still its 

 comparatively high altitude makes it one of the coldest districts 

 in Eastern Australia. The geological formation consists of granitic 

 and metamorphic rocks, which may be said to form the back- 

 bone of the Dividing Range. In some places extensive areas 

 of these rocks are covered with trap and basalt, which 

 have resulted from great volcanic disturbances at some 

 period of the earth's history. Excepting on the bare, granitic 

 hills, the soil varies in different localities. About one-third is 



