200 



is not required, can be obtained. The country to the east of the 

 Deep river consists of moderately high ranges, timbered with jarrah 

 and scrub, broken by patches of karri and gum ; that to the west of 

 the river is more gently undulating country, carrying similar 

 timber. Around Brooks' inlet there are large, fairly open plains, 

 timbered with stunted jarrah and scrub. Karri country is 

 generally a chocolate loam of good depth, and should be very 

 suitable for agricultural purposes. Where the red gum grows with 

 the karri, the soil is red loam and ironstone. There are also out- 

 crops of granite and ironstone. Jarrah country is generally poor 

 looking sandy loam, or a light loam and ironstone, with granite and 

 ironstone outcrops. Some of the former cover several acres. The 

 country south of lake Muir is essentially timber country, and 

 generally unfit for agricultural purposes, except where karri grows, 

 and here the cost of clearing prohibits settlement until better 

 means of communication with the market is provided, as it would 

 never pay to spend at least 20 per acre clearing -the land and 

 have to cart the produce 100 miles or more. As a rule, the country 

 is very scrubby and difficult to travel over, especially in the karri 

 country, some of which is almost impassable owing to dense 

 growths of hazel, acacia and other shrubs. A great deal of the timber 

 has fully reached its prime and is only deteriorating as the years 

 roll by, so that milling should be encouraged and all young timber 

 strictly preserved. I was unable to examine the country away from 

 the river as much as I would have liked, owing to the difficulty in 

 getting about, but trust that the information I have collected will 

 be of value to the department." 



