THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIA. 271 



from moisture and the heat less oppressive than in other parts where 

 the humidity is great and the thermometer lower. On the table-lands 

 of the interior of this part of the country the climate during the greater 

 portion of the year is delightful, but of the far eastern or central 

 districts little is known beyond mere report, which in most cases is 

 unreliable. 



South Australia is not by any means an abundantly watered colony, 

 the rainfall being probably less than in any other part of the continent. 

 In the neighborhood of Adelaide there is some 20 to 30 inches annually, 

 the average record being about 22 inches only, in the wettest districts; 

 while the country occupied by the Flinders Eange, Eyre's Peninsula, 

 and that along the shores of Spencer's Gulf enjoys but a scanty rain- 

 fall of little more than from 10 to 20 inches annually. In this country, 

 too, the excessive heat and persistent droughts are keenly felt during 

 the summer months of the year. Augmented by the heat from the 

 sandy desert plains of the interior the atmosphere is sometimes oppress- 

 ive and hot winds very trying both to animal life and vegetation. 

 From these, which usually occur in the months of December, January, 

 and February, there is absolutely no escape, the temperature being 

 abnormally high and not infrequently the thermometer rises 110° to 

 115° F. in the shade. Luckily these only occur during three months 

 of the year, the winter season being mild and agreeable. 



Some interesting and useful information might be given concerning 

 the pastoral and agricultural resources of our continent did time and 

 space permit. In both respects I have, I fear, already exceeded reason- 

 able limit; I will therefore merely offer a few remarks which, if they do 

 nothing more, may call attention to these vitally important subjects. 

 A good pastoral country requires an adequate water supply, either 

 derived from rainfall or from artesian sources. The former is natural, 

 inexpensive, and permanent; the latter costly and limited. The wants 

 of the pastoralist and agriculturist are unequal, although both are 

 equally dependent upon the products of the soil. Grass or any other 

 form of vegetation can only grow in soil where there is sufficient moist- 

 ure to sustain it, and this necessary want can only be supplied, naturally, 

 by rainfall. The more uniformly it is distributed throughout the year 

 the better will the country be for pastoral occupation. On the other 

 hand the agriculturist requires sufficient rainfall during six months of 

 the year, but his crops of grain and his vines would be little affected 

 if the other six months were rainless. But too much rain is injurious 

 to grain crops, for while it requires more than 20 inches of rainfall in 

 the summer for maize, such a climate would be unsuitable for the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of wheat. To the agriculturist nothing is more 

 important than climate, and reliable information upon this vital subject 

 is essential to the successful cultivation of the soil, both here and else- 

 where. Although Australia is preeminently a grazing country, there 

 are nevertheless extensive agricultural areas where grain crops may be 



