6 
be a month the mean temperature of which should not fall below 
66.2deg. Fahr. 
The following table gives the average summer temperature 
during the growing months at various Western Australian and Cali- 
fornian points :— 
pias Fahr. a Fahr. 
Geraldton... 75-5 San Francisco ww. 594 
Perth ... a wa» 72-9 San José ac .» 56°2 
Bunbury oa ve 7005 Los Angeles ... soe: OORT, 
Albany Se we 67:3 San Diego... we 68-4 
York ... wee eos 77-2 Sacramento ... we 71:4 
Katanning... we 7201 Fresno sae ww. 84-1] 
These tables show that, compared with the most noted Cali- 
fornian fruit-growing centres, the South-Western Division of West- 
ern Australia is possessed of a summer climate warm enough for 
the growth of any of the fruits of temperate zones; while the winter 
never severe enough to frost-kill these fruits, is, however, sufficiently 
cold to insure for them the three‘or four months of rest they need. 
With the exception of Albany and similarly situated localities, 
abundant warmth occurs for the ripening of all kinds of grape 
vines, of all temperate climate fruit, a most exacting one as regards 
warmth. Even in Albany, the early grapes do ripen, unless exposed 
to the chilling Southern breeze; while only a few miles inland the 
later-growing grapes as well reach maturity. Elsewhere, such as in 
the northern portion of the Eastern division cn the eastern side of 
the Darling Ranges, the great excess of summer temperature over 
that absolutely required for the proper maturing of the grapes re- 
sults in higher sugar formation in the juice. When to this higher 
summer temperature is associated a longer growing season, we find 
combined the elements conducive to the production of a second 
crop. 
Licur, 
Light also plays an important part in the prefect maturation 
of fruit, and an abundance of it, in conjunction with a congenial 
degree of atmosphere, results in better flavoured fruit, and in the 
better development of the colour, bouquet, and aroma. 
Reference to the information supplied in the meteorological 
reporis of the State, for a series of years, testifies abundantly to 
th. fine and bright state of the atmosphere during the summer and 
azutunin months at the stations mentioned above. On the faith of 
the same reports, we find that Albany is the locality with the 
smallest number of cloudless days during those growing months; 
while Bunbury, which comes next as regards a low mean summer 
temperature, as given in the above tables, is reported to have dur- 
ing the growing months an almost continuous suecession of bright, 
cloudless days, which are conducive to sugar production. Thus it 
is seen that, although the temperature in the district around Bun- 
