124 Notes on the Meteorology 



unless we assume, as some of the old residents still assert, 

 the climate has undergone considerable modification during 

 the period herein discussed. I have elsewhere* drawn 

 attention to the excellent yields of cereals on the Omeo 

 Plains during the past seven years, as disproving the notions 

 of the early pastoral settlers, that it would only be an 

 exceptional season in which wheat could be grown at these 

 sub- Alpine elevations, viz., between 2500 and 3000 feet, 

 owing, it was said, to late frosts, snow, and other unsuitable 

 climatic conditions. The adaptability of various portions of 

 the Australian Alps for most, if -not all, the extra- tropical 

 European, Asiatic, and North American vegetable products, 

 is now being proved by the influx of settlers under the 

 provisions of the Land Act 1869. Many localities between 

 3000 and 4000 feet — such as the Benambra Creek uplands, 

 referred to in previous paper to the Royal Society ,"f* 'have been 

 selected and in occupation of resident farmers for some time. 

 As an instance of what may be cultivated during summer even 

 at higher levels, it may be interesting to note that cabbage, 

 green peas, and other like culinary esculents are grown 

 every season — January and February — at Dargo High Plains 

 (4800 to 5000 feet above sea-level). The rapid growth of 

 vegetation during mid-summer is a noticeable feature 

 characteristic of these highlands, especially in those localities 

 where rich volcanic soils are disintegrated from the tertiary 

 basalts. As a summer sanatorium these highlands should 

 become valuable. Even to one accustomed to mountain 

 climbing, to cool pure air, and lovely scenery, the extreme 

 grandeur and sublimity of the landscape, the freshness, 

 rarity, and etherial purity of the air on our highest peaks 

 and table-lands, has a most exhilarating and invigorating 

 influence. The importance of meteorological observations 

 from the highest elevations over South-east Australia can, 

 I think, hardly be over-estimated, from the fact that there 

 is probably no other country where the necessary conditions 

 for studying weather phenomena are more favourable. 

 Surrounded by oceanic expanses, and with just sufficient 

 vertical relief to cause obstruction to wind and water circu- 

 lation, the higher regions of Australia offer a splendid area 

 for investigating many interesting meteorological changes. 



* Notes on a Geological Sketch, Section Australian Alps. Trans. Eoyal 

 Soc, S.A., 1884. 



f Physical Features of Australian Alps. Trans. Eoyal Soc, Vict., p. 188. 



