Rain Producing Influences in South Australia. 95 



Lake Frome. 



This lake, when full, perhaps does not cover more than half 

 the area of Lake Torrens. It is, nevertheless, then a very large 

 body of water with a surface of greater extent even than Port 

 PhiUip Bay. It is filled from practically the same drainage area 

 as Lake Torrens, and, therefore, should behave in much the 

 same way. Unfortunately, there are no stations at all near it 

 on the south-eastern side. About twelve miles due south from 

 it, however, there is Frome Downs Head Station, which shows 

 an increase of 2y per cent, for the decade 1910-19, over its 

 average rainfall of 5I inches. At a radius of about 100 miles in 

 a south-easterly direction are Boolcoomatta, Cockburn, Thacke- 

 ringa, Broken Hill, Purnamoota, Poolamacca and Corona. These 

 stations had in only two cases complete records for the period 

 reviewed, but these records were capable of being ''patched'^ 

 without any large probability of error. All but one show marked 

 improvements in the last ten years' rainfall, the percentages 

 being respectively : +9, +11, — 5, +13, +4^ +3, and +23. The 

 minus result was the most doubtful; but taking a mean of the 

 lot, we get an average increase of 8 per cent. 



Other Systems. 



As regards the probable water accumulation in Lakes Eyre 

 and Gairdner, or in the numerous minor lake beds of South 

 Australia, nothing can at present be said. Lake Gairdner is 

 probably under somewhat similar influences, but Lake Eyre 

 derives its supplies from sources too remote, and an area too 

 vast to permit of any hasty generahsation. It may be noted,, 

 however, that in connection with all these lakes there are indica- 

 tions of benefit during the decade 1910-1919 for all stations 

 within areas south-east from them, and to some extent tO' south 

 and south-west from them also. This, of course, is in accord- 

 ance with results already shown by the analyses of the rainfalls 

 on the eastern and western shores of the head of Spencer Gulf. 

 Both gained from the waters between, but only in the case of 

 the former could any great inland gain be expected, the general 

 drift of the atmosphere being eastward. 



The Cultivation of Eyre Peninsula. 



Reference has been made to the improved rainfall over the 

 eastern half of Kangaroo Island, the southern half of Yorke 



