302 FRUITS. 



the Commissioner-General, is admirably adapted for 

 sheep-farming, and is capable of supporting an 

 immense number. The old prejudice which for- 

 merly existed in favour of the common large-tailed 

 sheep is fast disappearing before the indubitable 

 evidence which has of late been presented to the 

 farmer of this district, of the superiority of woolled- 

 sheep. 



The climate of Albany is temperate and salu- 

 brious, and may be pronounced highly congenial to 

 a European constitution, and eminently restorative 

 to such constitutions as have been impaired by the 

 enervating effects of a tropical sun. The cold is 

 never severe, the thermometer in the depth of winter 

 being seldom below freezing point, while the heat of 

 summer is rarely oppressive. 



No tropical fruits arrive at perfection in Albany. 

 The orange does not ripen until the winter is far 

 advanced, and never attains that degree of excellence 

 which it is found to possess in warmer climates. Ba- 

 nanas and similar fruits never reach maturity. The 

 peach, apricot, apple, pear, quince, pomegranate, 

 almond, walnut, and several others of a like description, 

 grow with great rapidity, producing abundance of 

 fruit of good quality. It has not been fully ascertained 

 whether the climate is perfectly congenial to the 

 growth of the vine. Several vineyards have been 

 planted^ which have produced returns of fine fruits, 

 but in general the north and west winds, which 



