15 
The predominant bush plants or standing forest trees generally 
give an indication of the nature of the soil and of the subsoil. The 
gravelly ironstone is generally known as “jarrah” country (Eucalyp- 
tus marginata, Smith). Where there is a certain depth of brown 
loam on the surface, the jarrah is associated with the native grass- 
tree or “blackboy” (Xanthorrhoea), of which there exists two dis- 
tinct varieties. Pockets of deep loam amongst the ironstone gravel 
are indicated by the presence of the red gum tree called “marri” by 
the natives (E. calophylla, R. Brown). which is widely distributed 
on the coastal and hill portion of the South-West. 
The blossoming time of this gum is of partieular interest to 
the fruit grower or the vintner. An early and abundant blossoming 
—February and March—means little damage to grapes, figs. apri- 
cots, cherries, ete., by the birds generally known as “honev suckers.” 
When the blossoming, on the other hand, does not coincide with 
the time of ripening of some of the varieties of fruit named, the 
damage resulting from the bird pest is more or less apparent. 
Where jarrah, red gum, and blackboys grow together and 
attain large proportions, the soil is deeper. well-drained. fertile, and 
suitable in every way for the purpose of fruit and vine-growing. 
The “blackbutt” (E. patens, Bentham) is at intervals met with 
amongst these trees on the better class of soil. This tree is very 
hard to burn or to split. A few shots of gelignite in the trunk are 
of great assistance when burning. The occurrence of pipe-clay. 
either on the surface or at a shallow depth, is revealed by the pre- 
sence of White gum tree or Wandoo (£. redunca, Schauer). White 
gum alone is an indication of a cold. retentive porridge made up of 
pipe-clay and gritty sand. soft and slushy in the winter months and 
hard in the dry summer season. Small blackbovs growing amongst 
white gums are an evidence of the presence of this stratum of loam 
on the surface, and, similarly, jarrah and white gum are indicative 
of a mixture of ironstone gravel and pipe-clay. Lime and phos- 
phates, associated with drainage, are necessary for the raising of 
good crops on such soil. 
Over the same area frequent outbursts of trap rock and vol- 
canic dykes run through the country or occur in patches. and are 
easily recognised by the occurrence of boulders of blue metal em- 
bedded in a rich red loam of volcanic origin. Where such dykes 
occur, or appear as if churned up with the ironstone gravel, trees 
and all sorts of crops grow well, and oranges thrive splendidly, 
particularly when watered in the summer time. 
In the gullies alongside the brooks and around the springs. as 
well as on low alluvial soil bordering water-courses. the Flooded 
gums, often associated with blackboys. mark out fertile strips of 
land, rieher in potash, but which after a few years cropping require 
