INTRODUCTION GRAZING DISTRICTS. XXvii 



NEW ENGLAND PASTURES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



New England, as comprised in that portion of New South "Wales which 

 extends northwards along the Dividing Range from Armidale to Tenterfield, 

 is about 120 miles in length by about 40 in breadth, and has an area of about 

 3,000,000 acres. The configuration of this area consists of a series of plateaux 

 and stretches of both steeply and gently undulating country. It rises from 

 an altitude of 3,313 feet at Armidale to 5,000 feet at Ben Lomond, and falling 

 again to 2,827 feet at Tenterfield. The average elevation is about 3,500 feet. 

 Although the distance is only about 80 to 90 miles in a straight line from the 

 South Pacific Ocean, the high altitude makes the district one of the coldest 

 in New South Wales. The geological formations consist of granitic and 

 porphyritic rocks, which may be said to form the backbone of the 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. A great deal is good and some of it is very rich, and under culti- 

 vation is capable of yielding a great variety of crops such as are peculiar to 

 temperate climates. About one-third is composed of a rich, deep, red soil, 

 which has resulted from the disintegration of the basaltic rocks. A large 

 area of the low flat land is composed of a stiff, retentive, black soil, which 

 appears in the form of a deposit, and has most probably been washed down 

 from the surrounding high lands. There is also a large area composed of 

 light, friable loam, which is the result of wash from the granitic hills. These 

 are the principal soils of New England. 



TEMPERATURE AND KAINFALL. 

 Temperature at Armidale. 



Mean, temperature ... ... ... ... ... 56'9 



Mean summer temperature ... ... ... ... 69*0 



Mean winter temperature ... ... ... ... 45'9 



Highest temperature (shade) ... ... ... lOO'O 



Lowest temperature (shade) 11-2 



Temperature at Tenterfield. 



Mean temperature ... ... ... ... ... 57'5 



Mean summer temperature ... ... ... ... 67'3 



Mean winter temperature ... ... ... ... 464 



Highest temperature (shade) 1040 



Lowest temperature (shade) ... ... ... IG'O 



These temperatures will give a good idea of the climate of New England. 

 In the vicinity of Ben Lomond of course it will average a few degrees colder 

 on account of the greater altitude. 



Rainfall. The mean annual rainfall is 35*8 inches at Armidale, and 

 30'8 inches at Teuterfield, which may be considered a fairly good one for 

 a district situated at such" an altitude. 



WATER. 



New England is fairly well watered by several perennial streams, some of 

 which form tributaries to the western rivers. In several localities there are 

 springs of good water, and on some of the low flat lands water is easily 

 obtained by sinking a few feet into the earth. At Gruyra, which is situated 



