INDUSTRY AND COMMENCE. 141 
Other Vegetation-^ When there is an undergrowth, its character should 
be noticed, and the diseases, if any, to which trees are subject. 
Note what other vegetation exists besides that of trees. Are there any 
plants like the turnip, the potato, the batata, which are useful as foods, or 
for other purposes ? Specimens of any herbs likely to be useful should be 
obtained, especially if they are used by the natives for medicine, for dyeing, 
for poison, or other useful purposes. 
Sometimes, as in Central and Western Australia, what arboraceous 
vegetation exists, consists mainly of shrubs, the character of which 
should be noted. Do they hinder locomotion? Are their shoots useful 
for forage ? Are they injurious to horses and cattle ? 
When there is herbaceous vegetation of any extent, what is its 
character ? Is it tall and coarse and reedy, like much of the African 
grass? Or such as is found on the prairies and pampas? Or of a 
troublesome spinifex character, as in Australia? Or of a turf-like 
character, like the grasses of Europe? What are the components of 
this kind of vegetation, and how far is it likely to prove useful as fodder ? 
What uses do the natives put it to, either for their animals or for manu¬ 
factures ? Do they use it for making mats or cloth ? Are there any 
plants mixed with it injurious to animals? What is the condition of the 
grass at different seasons of the year ? When is it at its best, its 
strongest, its densest ? Is it liable to be parched up at any season ? To 
what extent is its condition affected by the climate, by rainfall, by irriga¬ 
tion, natural or artificial ? Is it easily removed, in order to make way for 
other cultures ? Does it spread into the forest region, and has it any 
special characteristics there? How does it, as well as other useful 
vegetation, vary with altitude or other local conditions ? 
Marshes , Deserts, Irrigation. —Note if marshes or peat-bogs, or other 
special features of the surface exist to any extent, and whether the 
drainage of marshes is practicable. 
Where deserts exist, note their character. Are they sandy, gravelly, 
rocky, salt ? What is the prevailing rock ? If the desert character of 
the land (as is generally the case) seems due to want of water, is there 
any artificial means likely to be available for supplying that want ? Is 
there any storage of water and irrigation among the natives? and, if so, 
how is it accomplished ? and what are the results ? Are there any sources 
within reach, either above or underground, from whence a supply of 
