Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-09-22

southern portion extends 10 about ~ de-
grccs south latitude.
The Island of Australia is divided into
four principal colonies. The first, OH the
cast side with fiIty.six counties, is called
New South Wales, with Sidney for its cap.
tai; the second, called Victoria or Port
Philip, with twenty.six counties, at the en-
treme south, with Mclburnc for its capital;
the third New South Wales, to the west of
Victoria, with niue counties, and with
Adelaide for its capital the fourth, Western
Australia or Swan River, on the western
side of the island, with Perth Swan River
for its capital. Sidney was the earliest
point settled. Western Australia next, and
Victoria last, which was first inhabited BY a
few families, chiefly English, from Van
Dirmans land, i'll 1886.
The climate of Australia presents all the
varieties common to tropical and temperate
latitudes.
Until the discovery Of gold, the growing
Of sheep was the main pursuit of the colo
MIST; and in lS50.5l, the number of sheep
on one island was estimated at thirteen to
fourteen millions, about five millions of
which were in the colony of Victoria. The
climate and soil of this new and growing
colony is represented to be the finest in the
world. At Melbourne, its capital, it is al.
most perpetual spring. Ice never forms
thicker than shilling, and even scum of
snow is but seldom seen. Sheep grow and
multiply BY merely turning them loose to
Craze, and never require the slightest use OF
artificial food aud such is the mdncss of
the climate that they lamb twice year, in
the months of April and October. Butch.
cr's meat, before gold was discovered, sold
as low as cd. per lb. So plentiful are cattle
that large boiling establishments exist,
where they are boiled down for their tallow,
Which is exported in large quantities to
England.
Much of the soil, i'll all Of the colonies, is
exceedingly fertile and productive, on which
can be grown the most luxuriant crop, oil
all kinds known to similar lattudes in other
parts Of the world, aud in great abundance
and perfection. But the soil found within
fifty to one hundred miles of Melbourne, in
Victoria, Or Port Phillip, exceeds in fertility
any other part Of the world. 1t is Of a
dark, bright chocolate color, resulting, it is
supposed, from the decomposition of ei iected
materials from extinct volcanoes 1t pro.
duces, when cultivated, one hundred bush
els Of corn, or sixty bushels OF wheat to
the acre, the latter weighing sixty -four
pounds to the bushel. Iu the famine years
of lS17 and '4S this wheat was shipped to
England, and commanded premium over
the best English grown article. The stalks
of wheat in Victoria attain height, in some
places, Of seven feet. The climate has
moderate falls of rain every month in the
year. The thermometer rare y goes above
Is or 80 degrees, or falls below 40 degrees
The mean temperature is about 81 degree:
the year round. 1t has the summer o
Eng land or Ireland, and tho winter Of thu
south of France or Italy. The growth O
Victoria has been, if we except some few
parts OF the United States, without par
allel. In 1886 and 1887, there were onl,
about 274 souls in the colony. In 1851
and 81 the population of tho town of Mel
bourne alone amounted to about $4,000
while the colony numbered near 77,00O
Melbourne is distant about 600 mlos south
west of Sidney. The handsome granite
fronts Of somo Of the houses, it is said
would do credit TO any European city.
stone bridge Of $50 tecc span has bee,