210 HISTORY OF FLOODS IN THE RIVER DARLING. 
a splendid collection of plants, not only annuals, but perennials of 
a tribe ; they existed there, although there was no appear- 
ance of them on the surface. He proposed to read a paper on 
the existence of these plants at a future date. How they existed 
was beyond his apprehension, because they have had this drought 
for several years ; the roots are still alive in the ground. Imme- 
diately the flood ceases the plants spring up ; the water does not 
remain long enough to kill the roots, and as soon as the water 
clears off the grass and plants grow again 
Mr. Russext, in reply to Mr. Donkin, said that the present 
flood in the river Darling would probably be sufficient for naviga- 
tion to the end of the year, because the country had been well soaked 
cient to keep up the navigation for months. For instance, the 
February, 1882 rain was general over the Darling watershed, and 
took two months to drain off, although there was little or no rain 
during the two months. 
[Diagram. ] 
