Foreign Notices : — Australia. 597 



the foregoing facts, Professor Chapman informed me that formerly, in Vir- 

 ginia, peach trees lived a number of years, and that when they were very 

 old, he had often seen them bear nectarines. The fact is well known, he 

 says, to all old natives of Virginia. — J. M. Philadelphia, Sept. 7. 1829. 



AUSTRALIA. 



The Swan River, or more properly Western Australia, 25th of Jan. 1830. — 

 300,000 acres have been located ; and there are in all about 1000 settlers. 

 This is evidently a pasturage country, and will only repay by breeding 

 the finest wool sheep. It has been proved that, at the low price at which 

 grain can be imported from Java, it can never answer to grow that article for 

 exportation except in the interior for home consumption. The soil, both 

 as to quality and the facility of bringing it into cultivation, has been over- 

 rated by Mr. Fraser, who, though an indefatigable botanist, does not under- 

 stand agriculture. To a certain extent, the soil is a good friable loam ; but 

 it soon cakes, and cannot be broken up for cultivation except after rain. 

 There is great variety of soil ; and clay, marl, sand, and limestone all lying 

 convenient. All the productions of Europe, including to a certain extent 

 those palms and that species of sugar-cane which are cultivated in Spain, it 

 is believed will thrive here. A parochial lending library for the working 

 classes has been established ; a literary institution has been commenced, 

 with 45 subscribers, 12 candidates, and annual funds to the amount of 

 100/. ; and it is intended to join to this institution a museum, and a bo- 

 tanical garden. (Morn. Chron. July 22.) 



A Literary and Scientific Society, patron the Lieutenant-Governor, was on 

 the eve of being formed at Hobart Town, in addition to other highly useful 

 and praiseworthy institutions which have been lately established there. 

 {Colonial Times, Jan. 29. 1830.) 



Mr. Scott's Garden at Hobart Toivn. — No resident of Hobart Town, 

 either passing or permanent, should omit visiting Mr. Scott, the industrious 

 and well-informed seedsman of Brisbane Street. In his garden there will 

 be found a most interesting collection of almost all the indigenous plants 

 of our island, and many others of foreign origin. A visit to Mr. Scott 

 will be considered a very useful disposition of a vacant hour. Mr. Scott 

 has now a great collection of Mount Wellington plants, dried and pre- 

 served, and has succeeded in collecting a quantity of the bark from the 

 pepper tree] which some of the gentlemen of the faculty so highly approve, 

 that we understand they intend to analyse it, in order to discover its virtue. 

 The pepper shrub of this island grows in a close thicket, to the height of 

 from 6 to 10 ft. when in blossom, in the spring months of November and 

 December. The farina of the flower is so pungent, especially if shaken 

 about by the feet of horses or cattle, that it is necessary to hold a hand- 

 kerchief to the nose, in order to avoid continually sneezing. It has a pretty 

 appearance with its red bark and dark green leaves. The whole of this 

 country is also interspersed with that magnificent shrub called warrataw, 

 or tulip tree, and its beautiful scarlet flowers. (Colonial Times, Dec. 11. 

 1829.) 



Vegetables and Fruit. — Potatoes 4s. to 6s. per cwt. ; cabbages lOd. per 

 doz. ; onions \d. per lb.; shallots Id. per bunch; turnips 2d. do.; carrots 

 Sd. do. ; grapes 6d. per lb. ; peaches 4s. per basket ; nectarines 6s. do. ; 

 apples 2s. per doz. ; melons 4c?. each. The long continuance of dry 

 weather has made forage unusually scarce. Hay is sold at from 9/. to 101 

 per ton. High fruit has also been made to ripen too fast, and great quan- 

 tities have fallen prematurely from the trees. Peaches and nectarines will 

 hardly ripen at all. (Hobart Town Courier, March 6. 1830.) 



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