52 SYDNEY. 



Sydney was much improved and enlarged 

 since my last visit in 1829 ; provisions were 

 abundant and exceedingly cheap, the shippirg 

 being supplied with fresh beef at one penny a 

 pound, and even less ; vegetables are also very 

 abundant, except in the most arid of the summer 

 months; and fruit is, during the summer months, 

 plentiful, and a great portion of excellent quality, 

 consisting of several varieties of peaches, apri- 

 cots, apples, pears, water-melons, loquats, grapes, 

 plums, and strawberries, &c. Fruit of a superior 

 kind obtains a high price, but the common kinds 

 are very cheap ; peaches for preserves or tarts 

 being hawked about the streets at a penny a 

 dozen. Gooseberries will not succeed in the 

 vicinity of Sydney, but this fruit has been pro- 

 duced in the Argyle and Bathurst districts. 

 Grapes have lately been perfected in the colony 

 in orreat abundance, both as to size and flavour ; 

 and much attention is now devoted by the colo- 

 nists to the cultivation of the vine ; for which, 

 from its prolific and early bearing, the Aus- 

 tralian soil seems to be exceedingly well cal- 

 culated. 



Several enterprising individuals have intro- 

 duced the different species and varieties of vines 

 from Spain, France, Portugal, &c. &c. producing 

 grapes, valuable in the manufacture of wine, as 



