FORESTRY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 



247 



production, that hardwoods are imported from the adjoining 

 States, but that the coniferous plantations already established, 

 and to be established, will ultimately overtake the demand for 

 softwoods. • 



V. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 

 1. CONFIGUEATION AND ClIMATE. 



The area of Western Australia amounts to 973,920 square miles. 

 Of this large area only the south-western corner is of real import- 

 ance from a forest point of view. All the rest of the area consists 

 apparently of savannah, mallee, and mulga tracts. 



The true forest range is about 200 miles long from the south- 

 western corner northward, and it lies at an elevation of about 

 800 feet above the sea. It is separated from the sea on the west 

 by a low-lying plain of sand and coastal limestone hills. On the 

 east the country rises to the central plateau. The forest belt is 

 well watered. 



The prime forest region consists largely of granite and gneiss ; 

 in the jarrah region the granite is capped with laterite. In the 

 savannah forest all geological formations occur, and it is a question 

 of rainfall whether the ground is stocked with savannah, mallee 

 or mulga jungle. In the karri region the soil is of better quality, 

 especially where karri and marri {E. calophylla) grow together. 

 In the savannah forest the soil is generally of an excellent, heavy 

 description and it is fast being occupied by the farmer as far 

 inland as the rainfall is sufficient for the growth of wheat. 



Climate. — It is maintained by some people that the true forest 

 area of Western Australia is the most healthy part of Australia. 

 The following data were recorded in 1918 : — 



In this region the rain falls during winter, April to September. 

 The summers, October to March, are hot and dry. On going 

 east or north the rainfall rapidly diminishes and the extremes of 



